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金剛上師

Pronunciations

Basic Meaning: guru

Senses:

  • A title used to denote an influential teacher of esoteric Buddhism 密教, 金剛乘 (Skt. vajrayāna) (T 2035.49.434a20). Full form of the term 上師, alternative of 無上師 or 最上師. In esoteric Buddhist liturgy, this term refers to the fourth treasure—a devoteeʼs root teacher—in whom one takes refuge in addition to the standard three treasures 三寶 of buddha, dharma, and saṃgha. (CBETA: X1083.308b20) Historically its common usage was limited to refer to teachers of Tibetan Buddhism. However, beginning in the nineteenth century it was used by Chinese devotees who had received Japanese Shingon 眞言宗 initiation (abhiṣeka) 灌頂 during the tantric revival 密教復興. Since its appropriation by the Taiwanese Chan 禪宗 monk and Shingon ācārya 阿闍黎 Wuguang 悟光 (1918–2000), it has become a general title for esoteric Buddhist teachers—regardless of denomination—in the Chinese-speaking world.1 [Cody Bahir; source(s): T2035]
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    • Notes

    1. Bahir, Cody. “Buddhist Master Wuguangʼs Taiwanese Web of the Colonial, Exilic and Han” in the E-Journal of East and Central Asian Religions, Vol. 1 (2013) pp 88–90.[back]


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    [Dictionary References]

    Zengaku daijiten (Komazawa U.) 365d

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    Entry created: 2015-03-11