Trividyā
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trividyā [alt. traividyā] (P. tevijjā; T. rig gsum; C. sanming 三明) is translated as "three knowledges," "threefold knowledge," "one endowed with threefold (higher) knowledge," etc.
It refers to three types of higher knowledge:[1][2]
- the ability to remember one's former lives (pūrvanivāsānusmṛti)
- the divine eye (divyacakṣus)[3]
- knowledge of "extinction of contaminants" (āsravakṣaya)
These three types of knowledge were obtained by the Buddha during the "three watches of the night" at the time of his awakening.[2]
The three knowledges are mentioned in numerous discourses, such as the Maha-Saccaka Sutta (MN 36), in which the Buddha describes obtaining one of these knowledges on the first, second and third watches respectively of the night of his enlightenment.[4]
These forms of knowledge typically are listed as arising after the attainment of the fourth jhana.[4]
See also
Notes
- ↑ Nyanatiloka Thera 2019, s.v. te-vijjā.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Buswell & Lopez 2014, s.v. trividyā.
- ↑ Note that:
- The Buddhist Dictionary lists the "divine eye"
- The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism lists this as one aspect of the "divine eye" - insight into the future rebirth destinies of all beings
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Thanissaro (1998). Other discourses that mention the three knowledges include the Tevijja Sutta (DN 13) and the Bhaya-bherava Sutta (MN 4).
Sources
Buswell, Robert E.; Lopez, Donald S. (2014), The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, Princeton University
Nyanatiloka Thera (2019), Nyanaponika Thera, ed., Buddhist Dictionary: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines, Pariyatti Publishing- Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1998).
Maha-Saccaka Sutta: The Longer Discourse to Saccaka (excerpt) (MN 36), Dhammatalks.org