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{{Short description|Dharma protector and deity in Buddhism}}
{{for|Hindu version of Brahma|Brahma}}{{Short description|Dharma protector and deity in Buddhism}}
{{Infobox Buddha
{{Infobox Buddha
| name = Brahmā
| name = Brahmā
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| japanese_name = {{ruby-ja|梵天|ぼんてん}}
| japanese_name = {{ruby-ja|梵天|ぼんてん}}
<br />([[romaji]]: ''Bonten'')
<br />([[romaji]]: ''Bonten'')
| javanese_name = ꦧꦿꦩ
<br />''Brama''
| karen_name =
| karen_name =
| khmer_name = ព្រះព្រហ្ម<br />(''Preah Prom'')
| khmer_name = ព្រះព្រហ្ម<br />(''Preah Prom'')
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{{Buddhism}}
{{Buddhism}}


'''{{IAST|Brahmā}}''' is a leading god ([[Deva (Buddhism)|deva]]) and heavenly king in [[Buddhism]].<ref>[http://www.nichirenlibrary.org/en/dic/Content/B/52 Bonten] Nichiren Buddhism Library, Soka Gakkai</ref><ref name="Krishan1996p120">{{cite book|author=Yuvraj Krishan|title=The Buddha Image: Its Origin and Development|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kDyJh--iaL0C&pg=PA120 |year=1996|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan|isbn=978-81-215-0565-9 |pages=120 }}</ref> He is considered as a protector of teachings (''dharmapala''),<ref name=buswelllopez141/> and he is never depicted in early Buddhist texts as a [[Creator deity|creator god]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Peter Harvey |title=An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u0sg9LV_rEgC |year=2013|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-85942-4 |pages=37–38 }}</ref> In Buddhist tradition, it was the deity Brahma Sahampati<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn06/sn06.001.than.html|title=Ayacana Sutta: The Request|website=www.accesstoinsight.org|language=en|access-date=2018-01-08}}</ref> who appeared before the [[Buddha]] and invited him to teach, once the Buddha attained enlightenment.<ref name=buswelllopez141/>
'''{{IAST|Brahmā}}''' is one of the three Gods ([[Deva (Buddhism)|deva]]) and heavenly kings in [[Buddhism]].<ref>[http://www.nichirenlibrary.org/en/dic/Content/B/52 Bonten] Nichiren Buddhism Library, Soka Gakkai</ref><ref name="Krishan1996p120">{{cite book|author=Yuvraj Krishan|title=The Buddha Image: Its Origin and Development|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kDyJh--iaL0C&pg=PA120 |year=1996|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan|isbn=978-81-215-0565-9 |pages=120 }}</ref> He is considered one of the protectors of the teachings (''dharmapala''),<ref name=buswelllopez141/> and he is never depicted in early Buddhist texts as a [[Creator deity|creator god]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Peter Harvey |title=An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u0sg9LV_rEgC |year=2013|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-85942-4 |pages=37–38 }}</ref> In Buddhist tradition, it was the deity Brahma Sahampati who appeared before the [[Buddha]] and invited him to teach, once the Buddha attained enlightenment.<ref name=buswelllopez141/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ayacana Sutta: The Request |url=https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn06/sn06.001.than.html |access-date=2018-01-08 |website=www.accesstoinsight.org |language=en}}</ref>


Brahma lords over the heavenly realm of [[Rebirth (Buddhism)|rebirth]] called the ''[[Brahmaloka#Buddhism|Brahmaloka]],''<ref name="Krishan1996p120"/> one of the highest realms in [[Buddhist cosmology]].<ref>{{cite book|author1=Robert E. Buswell Jr.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DXN2AAAAQBAJ|title=The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism|author2=Donald S. Lopez Jr.|publisher=Princeton University Press|year=2013|isbn=978-1-4008-4805-8|page=142, Article on '''brahmaloka'''}}</ref> Brahma is generally represented in Buddhist culture as a god with four faces and four arms, and variants of him are found in Mahayana Buddhist cultures.<ref name=buswelllopez141/>
Brahma lives in the heavenly realm of [[Rebirth (Buddhism)|rebirth]] called the ''[[Brahmaloka#Buddhism|Brahmaloka]],''<ref name="Krishan1996p120"/> one of the highest realms in [[Buddhist cosmology]].<ref>{{cite book|author1=Robert E. Buswell Jr.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DXN2AAAAQBAJ|title=The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism|author2=Donald S. Lopez Jr.|publisher=Princeton University Press|year=2013|isbn=978-1-4008-4805-8|page=142, Article on '''brahmaloka'''}}</ref> Brahma is generally represented in Buddhist culture as a god with four faces and four arms, and variants of him are found in Mahayana Buddhist cultures and Hinduism.<ref name=buswelllopez141/>


==Origins and nomenclature==
==Origins and nomenclature==
[[File:Wat Yannawa - 007 Brahma (12130018383).jpg|thumb|Brahmā (Phra Phrom) at [[Wat Yannawa]] in [[Bangkok]], Thailand]]
[[File:Wat Yannawa - 007 Brahma (12130018383).jpg|thumb|Brahmā (Phra Phrom) at [[Wat Yannawa]] in [[Bangkok]], Thailand]]


The origins of Brahma in Buddhism and other Indian religions are uncertain, in part because several related words such as one for metaphysical Ultimate Reality ([[Brahman]]), and priest ([[Brahmin]]) are found in the Vedic literature. According to KN Jayatilleke, the [[Rigveda]] expresses skepticism about major deities such as [[Indra]]; whether he even exists,<ref>{{cite book|author=KN Jayatilleke|title=Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zcs41sp8ON4C |year=1998|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0619-1 |pages=24 with footnote 2}}, Quote: "What evidence is there for the existence of Indra unless someone has seen him? One stanza in a hymn says, 'One and another say, there is no Indra. Who hath beheld him? Whom then shall we honor?' - Rigveda 8.100.3, in Griffith: 8.89.3"</ref> as well as whether the universe has any creator and whether this can ever be known, as evidenced in its eighth and tenth book, particularly in its [[Nasadiya Sukta]].<ref name="Jayatilleke1998p21">{{cite book|author=KN Jayatilleke|title=Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zcs41sp8ON4C |year=1998|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0619-1 |pages=21, 24 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=James Thrower|title=The Alternative Tradition: Religion and the Rejection of Religion in the Ancient World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xpXfiGyGbYEC |year=1980|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|isbn=978-90-279-7997-1 |pages=40, 43–44 }}</ref>
The origins of Brahma in Buddhism and other Indian religions are uncertain, in part because several related words such as one for metaphysical Ultimate Reality ([[Brahman]]), and priest/wise person ([[Brahmin]]) are found in the Vedic literature. According to KN Jayatilleke, the [[Rigveda]] expresses skepticism about major deities such as [[Indra]]; whether he even exists,<ref>{{cite book|author=KN Jayatilleke|title=Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zcs41sp8ON4C |year=1998|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0619-1 |pages=24 with footnote 2}}, Quote: "What evidence is there for the existence of Indra unless someone has seen him? One stanza in a hymn says, 'One and another say, there is no Indra. Who hath beheld him? Whom then shall we honor?' - Rigveda 8.100.3, in Griffith: 8.89.3"</ref> as well as whether the universe has any creator and whether this can ever be known, as evidenced in its eighth and tenth book, particularly in its [[Nasadiya Sukta]].<ref name="Jayatilleke1998p21">{{cite book|author=KN Jayatilleke|title=Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zcs41sp8ON4C |year=1998|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0619-1 |pages=21, 24 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=James Thrower|title=The Alternative Tradition: Religion and the Rejection of Religion in the Ancient World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xpXfiGyGbYEC |year=1980|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|isbn=978-90-279-7997-1 |pages=40, 43–44 }}</ref>


The late Vedic hymns had begun inquiring the nature of true and valid knowledge, empirical verification and absolute reality.<ref>{{cite book|author=KN Jayatilleke|title=Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zcs41sp8ON4C |year=1998|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0619-1 |pages=24, 27–28 }} Quote: "Here for the first time there is an expression of doubt about the possibility of knowing certain things and a dim awareness that some sort of evidence was necessary before we can afford to make factual assertions. What evidence is there for the existence of Indra unless someone has seen him? (...)"</ref> The early Upanishads built upon this theme, while in parallel there emerged Buddhism, Jainism and other skeptical traditions. Buddhism used the term Brahma to deny a creator as well as to delegate him (and other deities such as Indra) as less important than the Buddha.<ref>{{cite book|author=KN Jayatilleke|title=Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zcs41sp8ON4C |year=1998|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0619-1 |pages=21, 24, 27–28 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Antonio T. de Nicolás|author-link=Antonio T. de Nicolás|title=Meditations Through the Rig Veda: Four-Dimensional Man|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t7mNaMDu6o0C&pg=PA68 |year=2003|publisher= iUniverse|isbn=978-0-595-26925-9 |pages=68–70 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=James Thrower|title=The Alternative Tradition: Religion and the Rejection of Religion in the Ancient World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xpXfiGyGbYEC |year=1980|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|isbn=978-90-279-7997-1 |pages=35–46 }}</ref>
The late Vedic hymns had begun inquiring the nature of true and valid knowledge, empirical verification and absolute reality.<ref>{{cite book|author=KN Jayatilleke|title=Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zcs41sp8ON4C |year=1998|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0619-1 |pages=24, 27–28 }} Quote: "Here for the first time there is an expression of doubt about the possibility of knowing certain things and a dim awareness that some sort of evidence was necessary before we can afford to make factual assertions. What evidence is there for the existence of Indra unless someone has seen him? (...)"</ref> The early Upanishads built upon this theme, while in parallel there emerged Buddhism, Jainism and other skeptical traditions. Buddhism used the term Brahma to deny a creator as well as to delegate him (and other deities such as Indra) as less important than the Buddha.<ref>{{cite book|author=KN Jayatilleke|title=Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zcs41sp8ON4C |year=1998|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0619-1 |pages=21, 24, 27–28 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Antonio T. de Nicolás|author-link=Antonio T. de Nicolás|title=Meditations Through the Rig Veda: Four-Dimensional Man|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t7mNaMDu6o0C&pg=PA68 |year=2003|publisher= iUniverse|isbn=978-0-595-26925-9 |pages=68–70 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=James Thrower|title=The Alternative Tradition: Religion and the Rejection of Religion in the Ancient World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xpXfiGyGbYEC |year=1980|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|isbn=978-90-279-7997-1 |pages=35–46 }}</ref>
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==Classification==
==Classification==
The term ''Brahmā'' in Buddhism refers to the leading god, but in some Suttas the term broadly refers to all deities who live in the [[Buddhist cosmology#Form Realm (Rūpadhātu)|realm of form]]. Ancient and medieval Buddhist texts define seventeen,<ref name="Krishan1996p120"/><ref name=reynoldsp108/> or more,<ref>{{cite book|author1=Lewis Hodous |author2=William E. Soothill |title= A Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms: With Sanskrit and English Equivalents and a Sanskrit-Pali Index|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hAJHBQAAQBAJ |year=2003|publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-79122-3 |pages=180 }}</ref><ref name=edkins224/> heavenly ''Brahmā'' realms (along with demi-gods, hungry ghost and hellish realms), in a stratified manner, which are reached in afterlife based on monastic achievement and karma accumulation. A ''brahma'' in these texts refers to any [[Deva (Buddhism)|deva]] in the heavenly realms.<ref name=nagarjuna1978p42/> The Buddhist god Brahmā himself resides in the highest of the seventeen realms, called the ''[[Akaniṣṭha]]''.<ref name="Krishan1996p120"/> The multitude of Buddhist brahmas refer to:<ref name="Krishan1996p120"/><ref name=reynoldsp108/>
The term ''Brahmā'' in Buddhism refers to the leading god, but in some Suttas the term broadly refers to all deities who live in the [[Buddhist cosmology#Form Realm (Rūpadhātu)|realm of form]]. Ancient and medieval Buddhist texts define seventeen,<ref name="Krishan1996p120"/><ref name=reynoldsp108>{{cite book|author=John Myrdhin Reynolds|title=The Golden Letters: The Tibetan Teachings of Garab Dorje, First Dzogchen Master|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SJbxvDZOZz8C&pg=PA107 |year=1996|publisher=Snow Lion|isbn=978-1-55939-868-8 |pages=107–109 }}</ref> or more,<ref>{{cite book|author1=Lewis Hodous |author2=William E. Soothill |title= A Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms: With Sanskrit and English Equivalents and a Sanskrit-Pali Index|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hAJHBQAAQBAJ |year=2003|publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-79122-3 |pages=180 }}</ref><ref name=edkins224/> heavenly ''Brahmā'' realms (along with demi-gods, hungry ghost and hellish realms), in a stratified manner, which are reached in afterlife based on monastic achievement and karma accumulation. A ''brahma'' in these texts refers to any [[Deva (Buddhism)|deva]] in the heavenly realms.<ref name=nagarjuna1978p42>{{cite book|author1=Nāgārjuna |author2=Lozang Jamspal, Ngawang Chophel and Peter Santina (Translators)|title=Nāgārjuna's Letter to King Gautamīputra: With Explanatory Notes Based on Tibetan Commentaries |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QOaCcvni_GYC&pg=PA42 |year=1978|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-1375-5 |pages=42–43 with footnotes}}</ref> The Buddhist god Brahmā himself resides in the highest of the seventeen realms, called the ''[[Akaniṣṭha]]''.<ref name="Krishan1996p120"/> The multitude of Buddhist brahmas can refer to:<ref name="Krishan1996p120"/><ref name=reynoldsp108/>
# Any of the deities of the formless realm of existence called [[Buddhist cosmology#Formless Realm (Ārūpyadhātu)|Ārūpyadhātu]] brahma, who enjoy the highest heavenly pleasures in afterlife;
# Any of the deities of the formless realm of existence called [[Buddhist cosmology#Formless Realm (Ārūpyadhātu)|Ārūpyadhātu]] brahma, who enjoy the highest heavenly pleasures in afterlife;
# Any of the deities of the anthropomorphic form realm of existence called [[Buddhist cosmology#Form Realm (Rūpadhātu)|Rūpadhātu]] brahma, who enjoy moderate heavenly pleasures;
# Any of the deities of the anthropomorphic form realm of existence called [[Buddhist cosmology#Form Realm (Rūpadhātu)|Rūpadhātu]] brahma, who enjoy moderate heavenly pleasures;
# Any of the deities of the lower heavenly realms of existence called Kamadhatu brahma; According to the ancient Buddhist scholar [[Nagarjuna]], Kamadhatu brahmas experience inferior heavenly pleasures and may experience minor sufferings in their afterlife,<ref name=nagarjuna1978p42>{{cite book|author1=Nāgārjuna |author2=Lozang Jamspal, Ngawang Chophel and Peter Santina (Translators)|title=Nāgārjuna's Letter to King Gautamīputra: With Explanatory Notes Based on Tibetan Commentaries |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QOaCcvni_GYC&pg=PA42 |year=1978|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-1375-5 |pages=42–43 with footnotes}}</ref> while [[Vasubandhu]] described six heavenly levels within the kamadhatu realm for afterlife;<ref name=reynoldsp108>{{cite book|author=John Myrdhin Reynolds|title=The Golden Letters: The Tibetan Teachings of Garab Dorje, First Dzogchen Master|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SJbxvDZOZz8C&pg=PA107 |year=1996|publisher=Snow Lion|isbn=978-1-55939-868-8 |pages=107–109 }}</ref>


In the ''[[Niddesa]]'', the Buddha is ''devatideva'', the god beyond the gods including Brahma.<ref name="Krishan1996p120"/>
In the ''[[Niddesa]]'', the Buddha is ''devatideva'', the god beyond the gods including Brahma.<ref name="Krishan1996p120"/>

In [[Thailand]], Brahma or [[Phra Phrom]] is typically seen as the Buddhist god of order, government, law, students, the police, education, and the physical world.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2013-12-05 |title=Hindu Ideas of Creation |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03k289f |access-date=2024-01-10 |series=In Our Time |publisher=[[BBC Radio 4]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> He also has a role of both making the universe from chaotic, primordial matter and states of existence, and afterwards continually maintaining it by mitigating the depredations of these forces, with his efforts both being helped and hindered by the order and chaos of humanity and its civilizations.<ref name=":0" /> Although, in modern and historic Thai religious writings, depictions that resemble the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] [[Brahma]] much more existed.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Phromsuthirak |first=Maneepin |year=1981 |title=Hindu Brahmā in Thai Literature |url=https://thesiamsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/1981/03/JSS_069_0f_ManeepinPromsuthirak_HinduBrahmaInThaiLiterature.pdf |journal=[[Journal of the Siam Society]] |volume=69 |issue=1 |pages=43–44}}</ref>


==={{IAST|Baka Brahmā}}===
==={{IAST|Baka Brahmā}}===
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==={{IAST|Brahmā Sahampati}}===
==={{IAST|Brahmā Sahampati}}===
[[File:Giant She Mien Fo Statue at Sanggar Agung Temple, Surabaya, Indonesia.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Gold covered [[Phra Phrom]] statue at [[Sanggar Agung]], [[Surabaya]], [[Indonesia]]. He is known as ''Brahmā Sahāmpati'' in the Thai tradition.]]
[[File:Giant She Mien Fo Statue at Sanggar Agung Temple, Surabaya, Indonesia.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Gold covered [[Phra Phrom]] statue at [[Sanggar Agung]], [[Surabaya]], [[Indonesia]]. He is known as ''Brahmā Sahāmpati'' in the Thai tradition.]]
{{IAST|Brahmā Sahāmpati}}, said to be the most senior of the Mahābrahmās, was the deity who visited the Buddha when he attained [[bodhi|enlightenment]], and encouraged him to teach the [[Dharma]] to humans.<ref name=buswelllopez141/>
{{IAST|Brahmā Sahāmpati}}, said to be the most senior of the Mahābrahmās, was the deity who visited the Buddha when he attained [[bodhi|enlightenment]], and advised him to teach the [[Dharma]] to humans.<ref name=buswelllopez141/>


==={{IAST|Brahmā Sanatkumāra}}===
==={{IAST|Brahmā Sanatkumāra}}===
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A pair of Brahmās who are usually seen together while engaging in conversation with the Buddha.<ref>{{cite web |title=SN 6 |url=https://suttacentral.net/sn6-pathamavagga |website=SuttaCentral |access-date=2018-11-11}}</ref>
A pair of Brahmās who are usually seen together while engaging in conversation with the Buddha.<ref>{{cite web |title=SN 6 |url=https://suttacentral.net/sn6-pathamavagga |website=SuttaCentral |access-date=2018-11-11}}</ref>



⚫
==Brahmavihara ==
==Brahmaloka in Theravada Buddhism==

Arupa worlds are the highest among all divine worlds Brahma worlds. Since the beings born in these Brahman worlds with very long lifespans are formless worlds, many Buddhas were born and preached the Dhamma, even if the beings are filled to the point of Ama Maha Nirvana, they do not get to hear the Dhamma. During the time when our great Bodhisattva was performing difficult tasks, Alara Kalama and Uddakaraputta, who were teachers, were born in these worlds after giving birth to Dhyana, so they did not get nirvana in this Buddha seat.

Those who have acquired formative meditation will be born in the formless Brahma worlds after death, and those who have attained higher formless meditation will be born in the formless Brahma worlds after death. For that, the Dhyanas acquired must die without deterioration. But worldly meditation taken as Ashtasamapatti can deteriorate. Therefore, those dhyanas acquired by meditating with vigor should be preserved without deterioration.


The kirya mind was born in connection with the rupavachara and arupavachara meditations associated with Buddhas and Arhats. These rupavachara arupavachara meditation minds are also called Mahaggata minds in Abhidhamma. Meritorious minds, meritorious minds and meritorious minds are considered for those who are not rahats. Arhats will have milky hearts. There is no power of reciprocation in the mind. In this way, like the emotional mind, the Pratishandhi mind is also a Vipaka mind. That is, what is the purpose of the mind is also the purpose of the Pratishandhi mind. And among the above-mentioned Brahma worlds, there is also a Bambalo, where the fourth Dhyana Vaduvas are born as Asanjasanta. Sages, yogis who have grown into intense meditation, are born here and have only a physical body. There is no mind. Yogis take the mind out of the body by gradually focusing the mind on one goal at the same time as the fourth meditation. For this one must have strong mental concentration. This world of Brahma is born from animals in the same posture as when it was born from the world of man. Chaturtha Dhyanaddo should resolve to be born in this world of Brahman. Even though this is a metaphorical world, it should be abandoned when the specified life span is over. The reason for this is that the impermanence that affects other worlds is common to this world of Brahma. Also, when born in the worlds of Brahma, such as Suddhavasa, the lifespan is very long, so a noble person who has all the paramitas can listen to the teachings of a Buddha and see nirvana in the worlds of Brahma.

The Buddha says so because during the lifetime of the Brahman worlds, a large number of Buddhas appear in the world. All the Buddhas who appear in this way go to the world of snakes to preach the Dhamma.


And the nature and composition of the worlds of Brahma are as follows. That is, the people of the great Brahma reside in the Brahma Parisajja In the Brahma Purohita resides the advisors of the great Brahma The Great Brahman is the world where the Great Brahman resides. Phrathabhaya is a world of Brahman with dim light The light of appamanabha spreads immeasurably. In Abhassara resides the Brahmas whose body light is very vast.In Paritta Subha dwells the Brahmans who spread their light in a little way. Brahman, who spreads the immeasurable light of the infinite bliss closes.Brahmas who radiate unchanging bodily light in Subha Kinha reside.The Brahmins who have attained Mahatphala Mahanisamsa in Vehappala are closed The Dhamma also mentions the above-mentioned body light as Khyama Prabhava.


According to Buddhism, the number of Brahma worlds Twenty is more than the number of divine worlds. According to the teaching of Buddhism, the details about Brahma Loka are given below.

=== rǣpāvacara brahma lōka ===

1. brahma pārisadya

2. brahma purōhitaya

3. mahā brahmaya

4. parittābhaya

5. appamānābhaya

6. ābhassaraya

7. parittasubhaya

8. appamāna subhaya

9. subhakiṇhaka

10. vehapphalaya

11. asaṁgna talaya

=== śuddhāvāsa brahma lōka ===

12. avīhaya

13. atappaya

14. sudassaya

15. sudassiya

16. akaniṣṭaya

=== arūpāvacara brahma lōka ===


17. ākāsañacāyatanaya

18. viññāṁcāyatanaya

19. ākiṁcaṁñāyatanaya

20. nēvasaññānāsaññāyatanaya

⚫
==Brahmavihara==
{{main| Brahmavihara}}
{{main| Brahmavihara}}
In the sense of "a being of the {{IAST|Rūpadhātu}}", the term Brahmā may be related to [[Brahmavihara|{{IAST|Brahmavihāra}}]], a term referring to the meditative states achieved through the four [[Rupajhana|{{IAST|Rūpajhānas}}]], which are shared by the inhabitants of the Rūpadhātu. Prior to the advent of the Buddha, according to Martin Wiltshire, the pre-Buddhist traditions of ''Brahma-loka'', meditation and these four virtues are evidenced in both early Buddhist and non-Buddhist literature.<ref name="Wiltshire1990p255">{{cite book|author=Martin G. Wiltshire |title=Ascetic Figures Before and in Early Buddhism: The Emergence of Gautama as the Buddha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WXmmkYQf4RwC&pg=PA248 |year=1990|publisher=Walter de Gruyter |isbn=978-3-11-009896-9 |pages=248–264 }}</ref> The early Buddhist texts assert that pre-Buddha ancient Indian sages who taught these virtues were earlier incarnations of the Buddha.<ref name="Wiltshire1990p255"/> Post-Buddha, these same virtues are found in the Hindu texts such as verse 1.33 of the ''[[Yoga Sutras of Patanjali|Yoga Sutras of Patañjali]]''.<ref>Quote: '''मैत्री करुणा मुदितोपेक्षाणां''' सुखदुःखपुण्यापुण्यविषयाणां भावनातश्चित्तप्रसादनम् ॥ ३३॥ - Yogasutra 1.33; [http://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_yoga/yogasuutra.html?lang=sa Source], SanskritDocuments.Org</ref> According to Peter Harvey, the Buddhist scriptures acknowledge that the four ''Brahmavihara'' meditation practices "did not originate within the Buddhist tradition".<ref>{{cite book|author=Peter Harvey |title=Buddhism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oZCvAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA247|year=2001|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |isbn=978-1-4411-4726-4 |pages=247 }}</ref> The Buddha never claimed that the "four immeasurables" were his unique ideas, in a manner similar to "cessation, quieting, nirvana".<ref name="Aronson1980p71">{{cite book|author=Harvey B. Aronson |title=Love and Sympathy in Theravāda Buddhism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AYn7WsDccU0C&pg=PA71 |year=1980|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-1403-5 |pages=71 }}</ref> These meditation practices are named after Brahma, a god also found in Hinduism texts as well as Jainism text wherein he is equated with [[Rishabhanatha]] – the first Tirthankara in Jaina tradition.<ref name="Krishan1996p120"/>
In the sense of "a being of the {{IAST|Rūpadhātu}}", the term Brahmā may be related to [[Brahmavihara|{{IAST|Brahmavihāra}}]], a term referring to the meditative states achieved through the four [[Rupajhana|{{IAST|Rūpajhānas}}]], which are shared by the inhabitants of the Rūpadhātu. Prior to the advent of the Buddha, according to Martin Wiltshire, the pre-Buddhist traditions of ''Brahma-loka'', meditation and these four virtues are evidenced in both early Buddhist and non-Buddhist literature.<ref name="Wiltshire1990p255">{{cite book|author=Martin G. Wiltshire |title=Ascetic Figures Before and in Early Buddhism: The Emergence of Gautama as the Buddha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WXmmkYQf4RwC&pg=PA248 |year=1990|publisher=Walter de Gruyter |isbn=978-3-11-009896-9 |pages=248–264 }}</ref> The early Buddhist texts assert that pre-Buddha ancient Indian sages who taught these virtues were earlier incarnations of the Buddha.<ref name="Wiltshire1990p255"/> Post-Buddha, these same virtues are found in the Hindu texts such as verse 1.33 of the ''[[Yoga Sutras of Patanjali|Yoga Sutras of Patañjali]]''.<ref>Quote: '''मैत्री करुणा मुदितोपेक्षाणां''' सुखदुःखपुण्यापुण्यविषयाणां भावनातश्चित्तप्रसादनम् ॥ ३३॥ - Yogasutra 1.33; [http://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_yoga/yogasuutra.html?lang=sa Source], SanskritDocuments.Org</ref> According to Peter Harvey, the Buddhist scriptures acknowledge that the four ''Brahmavihara'' meditation practices "did not originate within the Buddhist tradition".<ref>{{cite book|author=Peter Harvey |title=Buddhism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oZCvAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA247|year=2001|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |isbn=978-1-4411-4726-4 |pages=247 }}</ref> The Buddha never claimed that the "four immeasurables" were his unique ideas, in a manner similar to "cessation, quieting, nirvana".<ref name="Aronson1980p71">{{cite book|author=Harvey B. Aronson |title=Love and Sympathy in Theravāda Buddhism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AYn7WsDccU0C&pg=PA71 |year=1980|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-1403-5 |pages=71 }}</ref> These meditation practices are named after Brahma, a god also found in Hinduism texts as well as Jainism text wherein he is equated with [[Rishabhanatha]] – the first Tirthankara in Jaina tradition.<ref name="Krishan1996p120"/>
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According to David Kalupahana, the Upanishads do not strictly distinguish between the two.<ref>[[David Kalupahana]] (1975), ''Causality: The Central Philosophy of Buddhism.'' The University Press of Hawaii, 1975, page 19.</ref> In contrast, Damien Keown and Charles Prebish state the texts do distinctly present both the male deity Brahma and the abstract Brahman, however, in the Upanishads, deity Brahma is only referred to a few times.<ref name=keownprebish122>{{cite book|author1=Damien Keown |author2=Charles S. Prebish |title=Encyclopedia of Buddhism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NFpcAgAAQBAJ |year=2013|publisher =Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-98588-1 |pages=122–123 }}</ref> The Brahman as the eternal, absolute metaphysical reality – along with [[Atman (Hinduism)|Atman]] (self, soul) – is the predominant and frequent teaching in the Upanishads and other Vedic literature of the Upanishadic period,<ref>{{cite book|author=M. Hiriyanna |title=The Essentials of Indian Philosophy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QeRIP-TuKLAC |year=1995|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-1330-4 |pages=19–21 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Mariasusai Dhavamony|title=Classical Hinduism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DD0w_IMFA8gC |year=1982|publisher=Gregorian University Press|isbn=978-88-7652-482-0 |pages=51–55 }}</ref> so much so that early Hinduism is also referred to as Brahmanism.<ref>{{cite book|author=Bruce M. Sullivan |title=The A to Z of Hinduism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xU4ZdatgRysC |year=2001|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-0-8108-4070-6|pages=45–46 }}</ref> The Pāli scriptures, which were written centuries after the death of the Buddha (although understood as representing the memorized word of the Buddha), mention Brahma, but there is no unambiguous mention of the gender neuter Brahman concept.<ref name=keownprebish122/>
According to David Kalupahana, the Upanishads do not strictly distinguish between the two.<ref>[[David Kalupahana]] (1975), ''Causality: The Central Philosophy of Buddhism.'' The University Press of Hawaii, 1975, page 19.</ref> In contrast, Damien Keown and Charles Prebish state the texts do distinctly present both the male deity Brahma and the abstract Brahman, however, in the Upanishads, deity Brahma is only referred to a few times.<ref name=keownprebish122>{{cite book|author1=Damien Keown |author2=Charles S. Prebish |title=Encyclopedia of Buddhism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NFpcAgAAQBAJ |year=2013|publisher =Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-98588-1 |pages=122–123 }}</ref> The Brahman as the eternal, absolute metaphysical reality – along with [[Atman (Hinduism)|Atman]] (self, soul) – is the predominant and frequent teaching in the Upanishads and other Vedic literature of the Upanishadic period,<ref>{{cite book|author=M. Hiriyanna |title=The Essentials of Indian Philosophy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QeRIP-TuKLAC |year=1995|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-1330-4 |pages=19–21 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Mariasusai Dhavamony|title=Classical Hinduism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DD0w_IMFA8gC |year=1982|publisher=Gregorian University Press|isbn=978-88-7652-482-0 |pages=51–55 }}</ref> so much so that early Hinduism is also referred to as Brahmanism.<ref>{{cite book|author=Bruce M. Sullivan |title=The A to Z of Hinduism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xU4ZdatgRysC |year=2001|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-0-8108-4070-6|pages=45–46 }}</ref> The Pāli scriptures, which were written centuries after the death of the Buddha (although understood as representing the memorized word of the Buddha), mention Brahma, but there is no unambiguous mention of the gender neuter Brahman concept.<ref name=keownprebish122/>


Buddhism denies both Brahman and Atman concepts in ancient Hindu literature,<ref>{{cite book|author=Junjirō Takakusu |title=The Essentials of Buddhist Philosophy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oyJjCx_tEiMC&pg=PA13 |date=1998 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-1592-6 |pages=13–14}}; '''Quote:''' "In very few words, Brahmanism, the old Indian religion, was a pantheism with Brahman (the eternal, absolute, unchanging principle) as the first cause of the universe. The manifestation of this Brahman is sometimes personified and is called Brahma (god, or the great self). Every human being has atman (little self). Brahman and atman are one, and of the same substance. Brahmanism, therefore, is an effort to seek the ultimate principle, Brahman, by studying one's Self, atman. The Buddha denied the existence of Brahman and atman and advanced a new theory of anatman (no-self)...."</ref> and posits [[Śūnyatā]] (emptiness, voidness) and [[Anatta]] (non-Self, no soul) concept instead.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Dale Mathers|author2=Melvin E. Miller|author3=Osamu Ando|title=Self and No-Self: Continuing the Dialogue Between Buddhism and Psychotherapy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WVpcAgAAQBAJ |year=2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-72386-8|page=81}}</ref><ref name=6sourcesatman>'''[a]''' [https://www.britannica.com/topic/anatta Anatta], Encyclopædia Britannica (2013), Quote: "Anatta in Buddhism, the doctrine that there is in humans no permanent, underlying soul. The concept of anatta, or anatman, is a departure from the Hindu belief in atman (“the self”)."; '''[b]''' Steven Collins (1994), Religion and Practical Reason (Editors: Frank Reynolds, David Tracy), State Univ of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0791422175}}, page 64; "Central to Buddhist soteriology is the doctrine of not-self (Pali: anattā, Sanskrit: anātman, the opposed doctrine of ātman is central to Brahmanical thought). Put very briefly, this is the [Buddhist] doctrine that human beings have no soul, no self, no unchanging essence."; '''[c]''' Edward Roer (Translator), {{Google books|3uwDAAAAMAAJ|Shankara's Introduction|page=2}} to ''Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad'', pages 2-4; '''[d]''' Katie Javanaud (2013), [https://philosophynow.org/issues/97/Is_The_Buddhist_No-Self_Doctrine_Compatible_With_Pursuing_Nirvana Is The Buddhist ‘No-Self’ Doctrine Compatible With Pursuing Nirvana?], Philosophy Now; '''[e]''' David Loy (1982), Enlightenment in Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta: Are Nirvana and Moksha the Same?, International Philosophical Quarterly, Volume 23, Issue 1, pages 65-74; '''[f]''' KN Jayatilleke (2010), Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge, {{ISBN|978-8120806191}}, pages 246-249, from note 385 onwards;</ref><ref name=johnplott3>John C. Plott et al (2000), Global History of Philosophy: The Axial Age, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120801585}}, page 63, Quote: "The Buddhist schools reject any Ātman concept. As we have already observed, this is the basic and ineradicable distinction between Hinduism and Buddhism".</ref>
Buddhism denies both Brahman and Atman concepts in ancient Hindu literature,<ref>{{cite book|author=Junjirō Takakusu |title=The Essentials of Buddhist Philosophy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oyJjCx_tEiMC&pg=PA13 |date=1998 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-1592-6 |pages=13–14}}; '''Quote:''' "In very few words, Brahmanism, the old Indian religion, was a pantheism with Brahman (the eternal, absolute, unchanging principle) as the first cause of the universe. The manifestation of this Brahman is sometimes personified and is called Brahma (god, or the great self). Every human being has atman (little self). Brahman and atman are one, and of the same substance. Brahmanism, therefore, is an effort to seek the ultimate principle, Brahman, by studying one's Self, atman. The Buddha denied the existence of Brahman and atman and advanced a new theory of anatman (no-self)...."</ref> and posits [[Śūnyatā]] (emptiness, voidness) and [[Anatta]] (non-Self, no soul) concept instead.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Dale Mathers|author2=Melvin E. Miller|author3=Osamu Ando|title=Self and No-Self: Continuing the Dialogue Between Buddhism and Psychotherapy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WVpcAgAAQBAJ |year=2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-72386-8|page=81}}</ref><ref name=6sourcesatman>'''[a]''' [https://www.britannica.com/topic/anatta Anatta], Encyclopædia Britannica (2013), Quote: "Anatta in Buddhism, the doctrine that there is in humans no permanent, underlying soul. The concept of anatta, or anatman, is a departure from the Hindu belief in atman (“the self”)."; '''[b]''' Steven Collins (1994), Religion and Practical Reason (Editors: Frank Reynolds, David Tracy), State Univ of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0791422175}}, page 64; "Central to Buddhist soteriology is the doctrine of not-self (Pali: anattā, Sanskrit: anātman, the opposed doctrine of ātman is central to Brahmanical thought). Put very briefly, this is the [Buddhist] doctrine that human beings have no soul, no self, no unchanging essence."; '''[c]''' Edward Roer (Translator), {{Google books|3uwDAAAAMAAJ|Shankara's Introduction|page=2}} to ''Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad'', pages 2-4; '''[d]''' Katie Javanaud (2013), [https://philosophynow.org/issues/97/Is_The_Buddhist_No-Self_Doctrine_Compatible_With_Pursuing_Nirvana Is The Buddhist ‘No-Self’ Doctrine Compatible With Pursuing Nirvana?], Philosophy Now; '''[e]''' David Loy (1982), Enlightenment in Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta: Are Nirvana and Moksha the Same?, International Philosophical Quarterly, Volume 23, Issue 1, pages 65-74; '''[f]''' KN Jayatilleke (2010), Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge, {{ISBN|978-8120806191}}, pages 246-249, from note 385 onwards;</ref><ref name=johnplott3>John C. Plott et al. (2000), Global History of Philosophy: The Axial Age, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120801585}}, page 63, Quote: "The Buddhist schools reject any Ātman concept. As we have already observed, this is the basic and ineradicable distinction between Hinduism and Buddhism".</ref>


The word ''Brahma'' is normally used in Buddhist sutras to mean "best", or "supreme".<ref>Steven Collins, ''Aggañña sutta.'' Sahitya Akademi, 200, page 58.</ref><ref>Peter Harvey, ''The Selfless Mind.'' Curzon Press, 1995, page 234.</ref> Brahman in the texts of Advaita Vedanta and many other Hindu schools, states Nakamura, is a concrete universal, manifesting itself as phenomenal reality which is not illusory and nondual.<ref>Hajime Nakamura (1990), ''A History of Early Vedānta Philosophy: Part One.'' Reprint by Motilal Banarsidass Publ., {{ISBN|978-8120819634}}, pages 137-139</ref>
The word ''Brahma'' is normally used in Buddhist sutras to mean "best", or "supreme".<ref>Steven Collins, ''Aggañña sutta.'' Sahitya Akademi, 200, page 58.</ref><ref>Peter Harvey, ''The Selfless Mind.'' Curzon Press, 1995, page 234.</ref> Brahman in the texts of Advaita Vedanta and many other Hindu schools, states Nakamura, is a concrete universal, manifesting itself as phenomenal reality which is not illusory and nondual.<ref>Hajime Nakamura (1990), ''A History of Early Vedānta Philosophy: Part One.'' Reprint by Motilal Banarsidass Publ., {{ISBN|978-8120819634}}, pages 137-139</ref>
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{{Wikiquote}}
{{Wikiquote}}
{{commons category}}
{{commons category}}
* [[Brahma]], another version of him in the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] tradition
* [[Brahma]], the creator deity of [[Hinduism]]
* [[Brahma from Mirpur-Khas]]
* [[Brahma from Mirpur-Khas]]
* [[Mahabrahma]]
* [[Mahabrahma]]

Latest revision as of 04:55, 13 December 2024

For Hindu version of Brahma, see Brahma.
Brahmā
Ming dynasty statue of Brahma (Pinyin: Fàntiān) in Zhihua Temple in Beijing, China
Sanskritब्रह्मा
Brahmā
Pāliब्रह्मा
Brahmā
Burmeseဗြဟ္မာ
(Bya-mar)
Chinese梵天
(Pinyin: Fàntiān)
Japanese梵天（ぼんてん）
(romaji: Bonten)
Khmerព្រះព្រហ្ម
(Preah Prom)
Korean범천
(RR: Beom Cheon)
Sinhalaබ්‍රහ්මයා
Brahmayā
TagalogBlahma
Thaiพระพรหม
Phra Phrom
Tibetanཚངས་པ་
Wylie: tshangs pa
THL: tsangpa
VietnamesePhạm Thiên
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Brahmā is one of the three Gods (deva) and heavenly kings in Buddhism.[1][2] He is considered one of the protectors of the teachings (dharmapala),[3] and he is never depicted in early Buddhist texts as a creator god.[4] In Buddhist tradition, it was the deity Brahma Sahampati who appeared before the Buddha and invited him to teach, once the Buddha attained enlightenment.[3][5]

Brahma lives in the heavenly realm of rebirth called the Brahmaloka,[2] one of the highest realms in Buddhist cosmology.[6] Brahma is generally represented in Buddhist culture as a god with four faces and four arms, and variants of him are found in Mahayana Buddhist cultures and Hinduism.[3]

Origins and nomenclature

[edit]
Brahmā (Phra Phrom) at Wat Yannawa in Bangkok, Thailand

The origins of Brahma in Buddhism and other Indian religions are uncertain, in part because several related words such as one for metaphysical Ultimate Reality (Brahman), and priest/wise person (Brahmin) are found in the Vedic literature. According to KN Jayatilleke, the Rigveda expresses skepticism about major deities such as Indra; whether he even exists,[7] as well as whether the universe has any creator and whether this can ever be known, as evidenced in its eighth and tenth book, particularly in its Nasadiya Sukta.[8][9]

The late Vedic hymns had begun inquiring the nature of true and valid knowledge, empirical verification and absolute reality.[10] The early Upanishads built upon this theme, while in parallel there emerged Buddhism, Jainism and other skeptical traditions. Buddhism used the term Brahma to deny a creator as well as to delegate him (and other deities such as Indra) as less important than the Buddha.[11][12][13]

In Hindu literature, one of the earliest mention of deity Brahma with Vishnu and Shiva is in the fifth Prapathaka (lesson) of the Maitrayaniya Upanishad, probably composed in late 1st millennium BCE, after the rise of Buddhism.[14][15][16] The spiritual concept of Brahman is far older, and some scholars suggest deity Brahma may have emerged as a personal conception and icon with attributes (saguna version) of the impersonal universal principle called Brahman.[17] The Buddhists attacked the concept of Brahma, states Gananath Obeyesekere, and thereby polemically attacked the Vedic and Upanishadic concept of gender neutral, abstract metaphysical Brahman.[18] This critique of Brahma in early Buddhist texts aim at ridiculing the Vedas, but the same texts simultaneously call metta (loving-kindness, compassion) as the state of union with Brahma. The early Buddhist approach to Brahma was to reject any creator aspect, while retaining the Brahmavihara aspects of Brahma, in the Buddhist value system.[18] Deity Brahma is also found in the samsara doctrine and cosmology of early Buddhism.[19][20]

Brahma is known as Fantian (梵天) in Chinese, Bonten (梵天) in Japanese, Hoān-thian (梵天) in Taiwanese language, Pomch'on in Korean, Phạm Thiên in Vietnamese, Phra Phrom in Thai, and Tshangs pa in Tibetan.[3]

Classification

[edit]

The term Brahmā in Buddhism refers to the leading god, but in some Suttas the term broadly refers to all deities who live in the realm of form. Ancient and medieval Buddhist texts define seventeen,[2][21] or more,[22][23] heavenly Brahmā realms (along with demi-gods, hungry ghost and hellish realms), in a stratified manner, which are reached in afterlife based on monastic achievement and karma accumulation. A brahma in these texts refers to any deva in the heavenly realms.[24] The Buddhist god Brahmā himself resides in the highest of the seventeen realms, called the Akaniṣṭha.[2] The multitude of Buddhist brahmas can refer to:[2][21]

  1. Any of the deities of the formless realm of existence called Ārūpyadhātu brahma, who enjoy the highest heavenly pleasures in afterlife;
  2. Any of the deities of the anthropomorphic form realm of existence called Rūpadhātu brahma, who enjoy moderate heavenly pleasures;

In the Niddesa, the Buddha is devatideva, the god beyond the gods including Brahma.[2]

In Thailand, Brahma or Phra Phrom is typically seen as the Buddhist god of order, government, law, students, the police, education, and the physical world.[25] He also has a role of both making the universe from chaotic, primordial matter and states of existence, and afterwards continually maintaining it by mitigating the depredations of these forces, with his efforts both being helped and hindered by the order and chaos of humanity and its civilizations.[25] Although, in modern and historic Thai religious writings, depictions that resemble the Hindu Brahma much more existed.[26]

Baka Brahmā

[edit]

Baka Brahmā (literally "crane-Brahmā") appears in the Majjhima Nikaya, where he is a deity who believes that his world is permanent and without decay (and that therefore he is immortal), and that therefore there are no higher worlds than his.[27]

Brahmā Sahampati

[edit]
Gold covered Phra Phrom statue at Sanggar Agung, Surabaya, Indonesia. He is known as Brahmā Sahāmpati in the Thai tradition.

Brahmā Sahāmpati, said to be the most senior of the Mahābrahmās, was the deity who visited the Buddha when he attained enlightenment, and advised him to teach the Dharma to humans.[3]

Brahmā Sanatkumāra

[edit]
See also: Four Kumaras

Brahmā Sanatkumāra (Sanskrit) or Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra (Pāli), the "Ever-young", appears in the Janavasabha-sutta (DN.18), where he is recalled as having created an illusionary presence to make himself perceptible to the coarser senses of Śakra and the gods of Trāyastriṃśa.[28]

Mahābrahmā

[edit]
Main article: Mahabrahma

The singular leading deity and the king of heavens Brahmā is sometimes referred in Buddhist texts as Mahābrahmā.[29][23] However, the Suttas are inconsistent in this regard and several early Buddhist texts depict Sakra (Pāli: Sakka) – who is same as the Hindu Vedic god Indra – as more important than Mahabrahma.[30]

The Mahābrahmā, or the Great Brahma, states Peter Harvey, is mentioned in Digha Nikaya as the being who dwells in the upper heaven; a Buddhist student can join him for one kalpa (eon, Brahma-year in Indian religions) after successfully entering the first jhana in the form realm of Buddhist practice.[31]

Subrahmā and Suddhāvāsa

[edit]

A pair of Brahmās who are usually seen together while engaging in conversation with the Buddha.[32]


Brahmaloka in Theravada Buddhism

[edit]

Arupa worlds are the highest among all divine worlds Brahma worlds. Since the beings born in these Brahman worlds with very long lifespans are formless worlds, many Buddhas were born and preached the Dhamma, even if the beings are filled to the point of Ama Maha Nirvana, they do not get to hear the Dhamma. During the time when our great Bodhisattva was performing difficult tasks, Alara Kalama and Uddakaraputta, who were teachers, were born in these worlds after giving birth to Dhyana, so they did not get nirvana in this Buddha seat.

Those who have acquired formative meditation will be born in the formless Brahma worlds after death, and those who have attained higher formless meditation will be born in the formless Brahma worlds after death. For that, the Dhyanas acquired must die without deterioration. But worldly meditation taken as Ashtasamapatti can deteriorate. Therefore, those dhyanas acquired by meditating with vigor should be preserved without deterioration.


The kirya mind was born in connection with the rupavachara and arupavachara meditations associated with Buddhas and Arhats. These rupavachara arupavachara meditation minds are also called Mahaggata minds in Abhidhamma. Meritorious minds, meritorious minds and meritorious minds are considered for those who are not rahats. Arhats will have milky hearts. There is no power of reciprocation in the mind. In this way, like the emotional mind, the Pratishandhi mind is also a Vipaka mind. That is, what is the purpose of the mind is also the purpose of the Pratishandhi mind. And among the above-mentioned Brahma worlds, there is also a Bambalo, where the fourth Dhyana Vaduvas are born as Asanjasanta. Sages, yogis who have grown into intense meditation, are born here and have only a physical body. There is no mind. Yogis take the mind out of the body by gradually focusing the mind on one goal at the same time as the fourth meditation. For this one must have strong mental concentration. This world of Brahma is born from animals in the same posture as when it was born from the world of man. Chaturtha Dhyanaddo should resolve to be born in this world of Brahman. Even though this is a metaphorical world, it should be abandoned when the specified life span is over. The reason for this is that the impermanence that affects other worlds is common to this world of Brahma. Also, when born in the worlds of Brahma, such as Suddhavasa, the lifespan is very long, so a noble person who has all the paramitas can listen to the teachings of a Buddha and see nirvana in the worlds of Brahma.

The Buddha says so because during the lifetime of the Brahman worlds, a large number of Buddhas appear in the world. All the Buddhas who appear in this way go to the world of snakes to preach the Dhamma.


And the nature and composition of the worlds of Brahma are as follows. That is, the people of the great Brahma reside in the Brahma Parisajja In the Brahma Purohita resides the advisors of the great Brahma The Great Brahman is the world where the Great Brahman resides. Phrathabhaya is a world of Brahman with dim light The light of appamanabha spreads immeasurably. In Abhassara resides the Brahmas whose body light is very vast.In Paritta Subha dwells the Brahmans who spread their light in a little way. Brahman, who spreads the immeasurable light of the infinite bliss closes.Brahmas who radiate unchanging bodily light in Subha Kinha reside.The Brahmins who have attained Mahatphala Mahanisamsa in Vehappala are closed The Dhamma also mentions the above-mentioned body light as Khyama Prabhava.


According to Buddhism, the number of Brahma worlds Twenty is more than the number of divine worlds. According to the teaching of Buddhism, the details about Brahma Loka are given below.

rǣpāvacara brahma lōka

[edit]

1. brahma pārisadya

2. brahma purōhitaya

3. mahā brahmaya

4. parittābhaya

5. appamānābhaya

6. ābhassaraya

7. parittasubhaya

8. appamāna subhaya

9. subhakiṇhaka

10. vehapphalaya

11. asaṁgna talaya

śuddhāvāsa brahma lōka

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12. avīhaya

13. atappaya

14. sudassaya

15. sudassiya

16. akaniṣṭaya

arūpāvacara brahma lōka

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17. ākāsañacāyatanaya

18. viññāṁcāyatanaya

19. ākiṁcaṁñāyatanaya

20. nēvasaññānāsaññāyatanaya

Brahmavihara

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Main article: Brahmavihara

In the sense of "a being of the Rūpadhātu", the term Brahmā may be related to Brahmavihāra, a term referring to the meditative states achieved through the four Rūpajhānas, which are shared by the inhabitants of the Rūpadhātu. Prior to the advent of the Buddha, according to Martin Wiltshire, the pre-Buddhist traditions of Brahma-loka, meditation and these four virtues are evidenced in both early Buddhist and non-Buddhist literature.[33] The early Buddhist texts assert that pre-Buddha ancient Indian sages who taught these virtues were earlier incarnations of the Buddha.[33] Post-Buddha, these same virtues are found in the Hindu texts such as verse 1.33 of the Yoga Sutras of Patañjali.[34] According to Peter Harvey, the Buddhist scriptures acknowledge that the four Brahmavihara meditation practices "did not originate within the Buddhist tradition".[35] The Buddha never claimed that the "four immeasurables" were his unique ideas, in a manner similar to "cessation, quieting, nirvana".[36] These meditation practices are named after Brahma, a god also found in Hinduism texts as well as Jainism text wherein he is equated with Rishabhanatha – the first Tirthankara in Jaina tradition.[2]

Chronology and Non-Buddhist views

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Japanese statue of Brahma

The old Upanishads mention both Brahma in the masculine gender deity "Brahmā", as well as gender neutral "Brahman" as the impersonal world principle.[37]

According to David Kalupahana, the Upanishads do not strictly distinguish between the two.[38] In contrast, Damien Keown and Charles Prebish state the texts do distinctly present both the male deity Brahma and the abstract Brahman, however, in the Upanishads, deity Brahma is only referred to a few times.[39] The Brahman as the eternal, absolute metaphysical reality – along with Atman (self, soul) – is the predominant and frequent teaching in the Upanishads and other Vedic literature of the Upanishadic period,[40][41] so much so that early Hinduism is also referred to as Brahmanism.[42] The Pāli scriptures, which were written centuries after the death of the Buddha (although understood as representing the memorized word of the Buddha), mention Brahma, but there is no unambiguous mention of the gender neuter Brahman concept.[39]

Buddhism denies both Brahman and Atman concepts in ancient Hindu literature,[43] and posits Śūnyatā (emptiness, voidness) and Anatta (non-Self, no soul) concept instead.[44][45][46]

The word Brahma is normally used in Buddhist sutras to mean "best", or "supreme".[47][48] Brahman in the texts of Advaita Vedanta and many other Hindu schools, states Nakamura, is a concrete universal, manifesting itself as phenomenal reality which is not illusory and nondual.[49]

In the earliest Upanishad, the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, the Absolute, which came to be referred to as Brahman, is referred to as "the imperishable".[50] The Pāli scriptures present a "pernicious view" that is set up as an absolute principle corresponding to Brahman: "O Bhikkhus! At that time Baka, the Brahmā, produced the following pernicious view: 'It is permanent. It is eternal. It is always existent. It is independent existence. It has the dharma of non-perishing. Truly it is not born, does not become old, does not die, does not disappear, and is not born again. Furthermore, no liberation superior to it exists elsewhere." The principle expounded here corresponds to the concept of Brahman laid out in the Upanishads. According to this text the Buddha criticized this notion: "Truly the Baka Brahmā is covered with unwisdom."[51]

The Buddha confined himself to both ordinary empirical sense experience and extrasensory perception enabled by high degrees of mental concentration.[52][53] The Upanishadic scholars, according to Francis X Clooney and other scholars, assert their insights as a combination of intuitive empiricism, experimentalism, and inspired creative perception.[54][55]

See also

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Wikiquote has quotations related to Brahmā (Buddhism).
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brahma (Buddhism).

Notes

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  1. ^ Bonten Nichiren Buddhism Library, Soka Gakkai
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Yuvraj Krishan (1996). The Buddha Image: Its Origin and Development. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 120. ISBN 978-81-215-0565-9.
  3. ^ a b c d e Robert E. Buswell Jr.; Donald S. Lopez Jr. (2013). The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton University Press. pp. 141–142. ISBN 978-1-4008-4805-8.
  4. ^ Peter Harvey (2013). An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices. Cambridge University Press. pp. 37–38. ISBN 978-0-521-85942-4.
  5. ^ "Ayacana Sutta: The Request". www.accesstoinsight.org. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
  6. ^ Robert E. Buswell Jr.; Donald S. Lopez Jr. (2013). The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton University Press. p. 142, Article on brahmaloka. ISBN 978-1-4008-4805-8.
  7. ^ KN Jayatilleke (1998). Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 24 with footnote 2. ISBN 978-81-208-0619-1., Quote: "What evidence is there for the existence of Indra unless someone has seen him? One stanza in a hymn says, 'One and another say, there is no Indra. Who hath beheld him? Whom then shall we honor?' - Rigveda 8.100.3, in Griffith: 8.89.3"
  8. ^ KN Jayatilleke (1998). Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 21, 24. ISBN 978-81-208-0619-1.
  9. ^ James Thrower (1980). The Alternative Tradition: Religion and the Rejection of Religion in the Ancient World. Walter de Gruyter. pp. 40, 43–44. ISBN 978-90-279-7997-1.
  10. ^ KN Jayatilleke (1998). Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 24, 27–28. ISBN 978-81-208-0619-1. Quote: "Here for the first time there is an expression of doubt about the possibility of knowing certain things and a dim awareness that some sort of evidence was necessary before we can afford to make factual assertions. What evidence is there for the existence of Indra unless someone has seen him? (...)"
  11. ^ KN Jayatilleke (1998). Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 21, 24, 27–28. ISBN 978-81-208-0619-1.
  12. ^ Antonio T. de Nicolás (2003). Meditations Through the Rig Veda: Four-Dimensional Man. iUniverse. pp. 68–70. ISBN 978-0-595-26925-9.
  13. ^ James Thrower (1980). The Alternative Tradition: Religion and the Rejection of Religion in the Ancient World. Walter de Gruyter. pp. 35–46. ISBN 978-90-279-7997-1.
  14. ^ Hume, Robert Ernest (1921), The Thirteen Principal Upanishads, Oxford University Press, pp. 422–424
  15. ^ KN Jayatilleke (1998). Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 68, 374. ISBN 978-81-208-0619-1., Quote: "We may conclude from the above that the rise of Buddhism is not far removed in time from, though it is prior to, the Maitri Upanishad".
  16. ^ Jan Gonda (1968), The Hindu Trinity, Anthropos, Vol. 63, pages 215-219
  17. ^ Bruce Sullivan (1999), Seer of the Fifth Veda, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120816763, pages 82-83
  18. ^ a b Gananath Obeyesekere (2006). Karma and Rebirth: A Cross Cultural Study. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 177–179. ISBN 978-81-208-2609-0.
  19. ^ Rupert Gethin (1998). The Foundations of Buddhism. Oxford University Press. pp. 114–115, 125–126. ISBN 978-0-19-160671-7.
  20. ^ Peter Harvey (2001). Buddhism. Bloomsbury Academic. pp. 261, 263–264. ISBN 978-1-4411-4726-4.
  21. ^ a b John Myrdhin Reynolds (1996). The Golden Letters: The Tibetan Teachings of Garab Dorje, First Dzogchen Master. Snow Lion. pp. 107–109. ISBN 978-1-55939-868-8.
  22. ^ Lewis Hodous; William E. Soothill (2003). A Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms: With Sanskrit and English Equivalents and a Sanskrit-Pali Index. Routledge. p. 180. ISBN 978-1-135-79122-3.
  23. ^ a b Joseph Edkins (1880). Chinese Buddhism: A Volume of Sketches, Historical, Descriptive and Critical. Trübner. pp. 224–225.
  24. ^ Nāgārjuna; Lozang Jamspal, Ngawang Chophel and Peter Santina (Translators) (1978). Nāgārjuna's Letter to King Gautamīputra: With Explanatory Notes Based on Tibetan Commentaries. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 42–43 with footnotes. ISBN 978-81-208-1375-5. {{cite book}}: |author2= has generic name (help)
  25. ^ a b "Hindu Ideas of Creation". In Our Time. BBC Radio 4. 2013-12-05. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  26. ^ Phromsuthirak, Maneepin (1981). "Hindu Brahmā in Thai Literature" (PDF). Journal of the Siam Society. 69 (1): 43–44.
  27. ^ "Brahma-nimantanika Sutta: The Brahma Invitation". www.accesstoinsight.org. Retrieved 2017-04-23.
  28. ^ "DN 18". SuttaCentral. Retrieved 2017-04-23.
  29. ^ Richard K. Payne; Taigen Dan Leighton (2006). Discourse and Ideology in Medieval Japanese Buddhism. Routledge. pp. 57–58. ISBN 978-1-134-24210-8.
  30. ^ Richard Gombrich (2012). Buddhist Precept & Practice. Routledge. pp. 199–200. ISBN 978-1-136-15623-6.
  31. ^ Peter Harvey (2013). An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices. Cambridge University Press. pp. 35–36. ISBN 978-0-521-85942-4.
  32. ^ "SN 6". SuttaCentral. Retrieved 2018-11-11.
  33. ^ a b Martin G. Wiltshire (1990). Ascetic Figures Before and in Early Buddhism: The Emergence of Gautama as the Buddha. Walter de Gruyter. pp. 248–264. ISBN 978-3-11-009896-9.
  34. ^ Quote: मैत्री करुणा मुदितोपेक्षाणां सुखदुःखपुण्यापुण्यविषयाणां भावनातश्चित्तप्रसादनम् ॥ ३३॥ - Yogasutra 1.33; Source, SanskritDocuments.Org
  35. ^ Peter Harvey (2001). Buddhism. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 247. ISBN 978-1-4411-4726-4.
  36. ^ Harvey B. Aronson (1980). Love and Sympathy in Theravāda Buddhism. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 71. ISBN 978-81-208-1403-5.
  37. ^ Hajime Nakamura, A History of Early Vedānta Philosophy: Part One. Reprint by Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1990, page 136.
  38. ^ David Kalupahana (1975), Causality: The Central Philosophy of Buddhism. The University Press of Hawaii, 1975, page 19.
  39. ^ a b Damien Keown; Charles S. Prebish (2013). Encyclopedia of Buddhism. Routledge. pp. 122–123. ISBN 978-1-136-98588-1.
  40. ^ M. Hiriyanna (1995). The Essentials of Indian Philosophy. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 19–21. ISBN 978-81-208-1330-4.
  41. ^ Mariasusai Dhavamony (1982). Classical Hinduism. Gregorian University Press. pp. 51–55. ISBN 978-88-7652-482-0.
  42. ^ Bruce M. Sullivan (2001). The A to Z of Hinduism. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 45–46. ISBN 978-0-8108-4070-6.
  43. ^ Junjirō Takakusu (1998). The Essentials of Buddhist Philosophy. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 13–14. ISBN 978-81-208-1592-6.; Quote: "In very few words, Brahmanism, the old Indian religion, was a pantheism with Brahman (the eternal, absolute, unchanging principle) as the first cause of the universe. The manifestation of this Brahman is sometimes personified and is called Brahma (god, or the great self). Every human being has atman (little self). Brahman and atman are one, and of the same substance. Brahmanism, therefore, is an effort to seek the ultimate principle, Brahman, by studying one's Self, atman. The Buddha denied the existence of Brahman and atman and advanced a new theory of anatman (no-self)...."
  44. ^ Dale Mathers; Melvin E. Miller; Osamu Ando (2013). Self and No-Self: Continuing the Dialogue Between Buddhism and Psychotherapy. Routledge. p. 81. ISBN 978-1-317-72386-8.
  45. ^ [a] Anatta, Encyclopædia Britannica (2013), Quote: "Anatta in Buddhism, the doctrine that there is in humans no permanent, underlying soul. The concept of anatta, or anatman, is a departure from the Hindu belief in atman (“the self”)."; [b] Steven Collins (1994), Religion and Practical Reason (Editors: Frank Reynolds, David Tracy), State Univ of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791422175, page 64; "Central to Buddhist soteriology is the doctrine of not-self (Pali: anattā, Sanskrit: anātman, the opposed doctrine of ātman is central to Brahmanical thought). Put very briefly, this is the [Buddhist] doctrine that human beings have no soul, no self, no unchanging essence."; [c] Edward Roer (Translator), Shankara's Introduction, p. 2, at Google Books to Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad, pages 2-4; [d] Katie Javanaud (2013), Is The Buddhist ‘No-Self’ Doctrine Compatible With Pursuing Nirvana?, Philosophy Now; [e] David Loy (1982), Enlightenment in Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta: Are Nirvana and Moksha the Same?, International Philosophical Quarterly, Volume 23, Issue 1, pages 65-74; [f] KN Jayatilleke (2010), Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge, ISBN 978-8120806191, pages 246-249, from note 385 onwards;
  46. ^ John C. Plott et al. (2000), Global History of Philosophy: The Axial Age, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120801585, page 63, Quote: "The Buddhist schools reject any Ātman concept. As we have already observed, this is the basic and ineradicable distinction between Hinduism and Buddhism".
  47. ^ Steven Collins, Aggañña sutta. Sahitya Akademi, 200, page 58.
  48. ^ Peter Harvey, The Selfless Mind. Curzon Press, 1995, page 234.
  49. ^ Hajime Nakamura (1990), A History of Early Vedānta Philosophy: Part One. Reprint by Motilal Banarsidass Publ., ISBN 978-8120819634, pages 137-139
  50. ^ Karel Werner, The Yogi and the Mystic: Studies in Indian and Comparative Mysticism. Routledge, 1994, page 24.
  51. ^ Hajime Nakamura, A History of Early Vedānta Philosophy: Part One. Reprint by Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1990, pages 137-138. "It has the dharma of non-perishing" is Nakamura's translation of "acavanadhammam".
  52. ^ David J. Kalupahana, Buddhist philosophy: A Historical Analysis. Published by University of Hawaii Press, 1977, pages 23-24;
    David Kalupahana, Causality: The Central Philosophy of Buddhism. The University Press of Hawaii, 1975, page 185.
  53. ^ A.K. Warder, A Course in Indian Philosophy. Second edition published by Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1998, page 81.
  54. ^ Hartmut Scharfe (2002), Handbook of Oriental Studies, BRILL Academic, ISBN 978-9004125568, pages 13-14
  55. ^ Francis X Clooney (2001). Robert C. Neville (ed.). Religious Truth: A Volume in the Comparative Religious Ideas Project. State University of New York Press. pp. 53–54. ISBN 978-0-7914-4778-9.
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