Opening the text

Buddhism, in Its Connexion with Brahmanism and Hinduism, and in Its Contrast with ChristianityMonier-Williams, Monier, Sir

Religion

Buddhism, in Its Connexion with Brahmanism and Hinduism, and in Its Contrast with Christianity

Name: Buddhism, in Its Connexion with Brahmanism and Hinduism, and in Its Contrast with Christianity
Author: Monier-Williams, Monier, Sir

Monier-Williams, Monier, Sir

Buddhism; Buddhism -- Relations -- Christianity; Christianity and other religions -- Buddhism; India -- Religion

A.
            _Heavens of beings liable to sensuous desires._

    (1) Heaven of the four Mahā-rājas.
    (2) Heaven of the Trayastriṉṡas.
    (3) Heaven of the Yāmas.
    (4) Heaven of the Tushitas.
    (5) Heaven of the Nirmāṇa-rati-devāḥ.
    (6) Heaven of the Para-nirmita-vaṡa-vartins.

                                   B.
               _Heavens of beings possessing true forms._


                             First Dhyāna.

    (7) Heaven of the Brahma-parisajjā devāḥ.
    (8) Heaven of the Brahma-purohitā devāḥ.
    (9) Heaven of the Mahā-brahmā devāḥ.

                             Second Dhyāna.

    (10) Heaven of the Parīttābhā devāḥ.
    (11) Heaven of the Apramāṇābhā devāḥ.
    (12) Heaven of the Ābhāsvarā devāḥ.

                             Third Dhyāna.

    (13) Heaven of the Parītta-ṡubhā devāḥ.
    (14) Heaven of the Apramāṇa-ṡubhā devāḥ.
    (15) Heaven of the Ṡubha-kṛitsnā devāḥ.

                             Fourth Dhyāna.

    (16) Heaven of the Vṛihat-phalā devāḥ.
    (17) Heaven of the Asañjñi-sattvā devāḥ.
    (18) Heaven of the Avṛihā devāḥ.
    (19) Heaven of the Atapā devāḥ.
    (20) Heaven of the Sudarṡā devāḥ.
    (21) Heaven of the Sudarṡino devāḥ.
    (22) Heaven of the Akanishṭhā devāḥ.

                                   C.
                    _Heavens of formless entities._

    (23) Heaven of the Ākāṡānantyāyatanā devāḥ.
    (24) Heaven of the Vijñānānantyāyatanā devāḥ.
    (25) Heaven of the Akiñćanyāyatanā devāḥ.
    (26) Heaven of the Naiva-sañjñānāsañjñāyatanā devāḥ.

This elaborate description of higher and higher conditions of future
existence may be contrasted with the reticence of the Bible and its
simple allusion to a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth
righteousness.

The description, however, belongs to later Buddhism. It enables us to
understand the true position of the Buddhist gods. They merely
constitute one of the six classes of beings, and, as they have to go
through other forms of life, are inferior to Arhats and Buddhas.

Mahā-brahmā is often named, whereas Vishṇu, the popular god of the
Hindūs, is neglected. In point of fact he was, as we have seen,
represented by Padma-pāṇi (Avalokiteṡvara, p. 198), who seems to have
taken his place in later Buddhism.

At all events the more modern form of Vishṇu called Kṛishṇa, who is
generally worshipped by the lower orders of Hindūs as the most popular
god of mediæval Hindūism, has not been adopted by the inhabitants of
Buddhist countries.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

Buddhism, in Its Connexion with Brahmanism and Hinduism, and in Its Contrast with ChristianityMonier-Williams, Monier, Sir

Religion

Buddhism, in Its Connexion with Brahmanism and Hinduism, and in Its Contrast with Christianity

Monier-Williams, Monier, Sir

Buddhism; Buddhism -- Relations -- Christianity; Christianity and other religions -- Buddhism; India -- Religion

A.
            _Heavens of beings liable to sensuous desires._

    (1) Heaven of the four Mahā-rājas.
    (2) Heaven of the Trayastriṉṡas.
    (3) Heaven of the Yāmas.
    (4) Heaven of the Tushitas.
    (5) Heaven of the Nirmāṇa-rati-devāḥ.
    (6) Heaven of the Para-nirmita-vaṡa-vartins.

                                   B.
               _Heavens of beings possessing true forms._


                             First Dhyāna.

    (7) Heaven of the Brahma-parisajjā devāḥ.
    (8) Heaven of the Brahma-purohitā devāḥ.
    (9) Heaven of the Mahā-brahmā devāḥ.

                             Second Dhyāna.

    (10) Heaven of the Parīttābhā devāḥ.
    (11) Heaven of the Apramāṇābhā devāḥ.
    (12) Heaven of the Ābhāsvarā devāḥ.

                             Third Dhyāna.

    (13) Heaven of the Parītta-ṡubhā devāḥ.
    (14) Heaven of the Apramāṇa-ṡubhā devāḥ.
    (15) Heaven of the Ṡubha-kṛitsnā devāḥ.

                             Fourth Dhyāna.

    (16) Heaven of the Vṛihat-phalā devāḥ.
    (17) Heaven of the Asañjñi-sattvā devāḥ.
    (18) Heaven of the Avṛihā devāḥ.
    (19) Heaven of the Atapā devāḥ.
    (20) Heaven of the Sudarṡā devāḥ.
    (21) Heaven of the Sudarṡino devāḥ.
    (22) Heaven of the Akanishṭhā devāḥ.

                                   C.
                    _Heavens of formless entities._

    (23) Heaven of the Ākāṡānantyāyatanā devāḥ.
    (24) Heaven of the Vijñānānantyāyatanā devāḥ.
    (25) Heaven of the Akiñćanyāyatanā devāḥ.
    (26) Heaven of the Naiva-sañjñānāsañjñāyatanā devāḥ.

This elaborate description of higher and higher conditions of future
existence may be contrasted with the reticence of the Bible and its
simple allusion to a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth
righteousness.

The description, however, belongs to later Buddhism. It enables us to
understand the true position of the Buddhist gods. They merely
constitute one of the six classes of beings, and, as they have to go
through other forms of life, are inferior to Arhats and Buddhas.

Mahā-brahmā is often named, whereas Vishṇu, the popular god of the
Hindūs, is neglected. In point of fact he was, as we have seen,
represented by Padma-pāṇi (Avalokiteṡvara, p. 198), who seems to have
taken his place in later Buddhism.

At all events the more modern form of Vishṇu called Kṛishṇa, who is
generally worshipped by the lower orders of Hindūs as the most popular
god of mediæval Hindūism, has not been adopted by the inhabitants of
Buddhist countries.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Buddhism, in Its Connexion with Brahmanism and Hinduism, and in Its Contrast with Christianity

Buddhism, in Its Connexion with Brahmanism and Hinduism, and in Its Contrast with Christianity

No reviews yet