Sthāna
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sthāna (P. ṭhāna; T. gnas) has multiple meanings in traditional Buddhist texts. These include:
- abide; abode; base; foundation; possible; pīṭha; refuge; resting place; room; sanctuary; standing place; tenable
Standing
Sthāna can also mean "standing."
The four types of postures (īryāpatha) or physical movements (mentioned in the context of meditation instructions) are:[1]
- walking (caṅkrama; P. caraṃ)
- standing (sthāna)
- sitting (niṣaṇṇa; P. nisinna)
- lying down (śaya/śayana; P. sayaṃ/sayāna)
What is possible or tenable
Sthāna can also mean "possible," "tenable," etc.
The 84000 glossary states:
- That which is tenable or can reasonably be expected to occur. Knowing what is possible and what is impossible (Tib. gnas dang gnas ma yin, Skt. sthānāsthāna) is counted among the ten powers of a buddha (Tib. stobs bcu, Skt. daśabala).[2]
And also:
- This term refers to all that is reasonable and can be expected to occur. Among the ten powers of a Buddha, the first is knowing what is tenable and untenable (Skt. sthānāsthāna, Tib. གནས་དང་གནས་མ་ཡིན་), i.e., the natural laws that govern the world in which we live.[3]
Notes
- ↑ Robert E. Buswell Jr., Donald S. Lopez Jr., The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism (Princeton: 2014), s.v. īryāpatha
- ↑
Multitude of Constituents, g.17, 84000 Glossary of Terms
- ↑
gnas, Christian-Steinert Dictionary