Significance of Sentient being
Synonyms: Conscious being, Intelligent creature, Living organism, Conscious entity, Thinking being
In Dutch: Gevoelig wezen; In Finnish: Tunteva olento; In Spanish: Ser sintiente; In German: Empfindungsf盲higes Wesen; In Malay: Makhluk Hidup; In Swedish: K盲nslom盲ssig varelse; In Swedish: K盲nslande varelse; In German: F眉hlendes Wesen; In French: 脢tre sensible
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Buddhist concept of 'Sentient being'
In Buddhism, "Sentient beings" are defined as living creatures endowed with consciousness and perception, deserving compassion, capable of experiencing joy and suffering, and influenced by karma; they are central to Buddhist teachings and the pursuit of liberation.
From: Bodhisattvacharyavatara
(1) All living entities that possess consciousness and are capable of experiencing feelings, including suffering and happiness.[1] (2) All living entities that possess consciousness, who bodhisattvas aspire to liberate from suffering and help attain enlightenment.[2] (3) All beings capable of experiencing suffering, whom bodhisattvas aim to help.[3] (4) Living entities that possess sensitivity and awareness, impactful in the context of compassion and teachings.[4] (5) A living entity with perception and consciousness, which includes insects, yet does not equate to a person in this context.[5]
From: Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva fundamental vow sutra
(1) Living entities capable of perception, who experience suffering and are subject to the cycles of birth and death.[6] (2) Living creatures capable of perception and feeling, whose actions in karmic paths lead to different outcomes in terms of benefits received.[7] (3) Living entities that have the capacity to experience suffering and enjoyment, involving all beings in the six realms of samsara.[8] (4) All living creatures capable of perception and suffering in the universe.[9] (5) Living entities that possess consciousness and can experience suffering or enlightenment.[10]
From: Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva (Sutra of the Great Vow)
(1) Living entities capable of suffering, who can benefit from the protection and teachings of Buddha and bodhisattvas.[11] (2) All living creatures that have the capacity for perception, deserving of compassion and support.[12] (3) Living beings that possess awareness and the capacity to experience suffering and joy.[13] (4) Living entities with consciousness that create karma, which determines their retribution in the afterlife.[14] (5) All living entities that possess consciousness and are capable of suffering and joy, who Kshitigarbha Bodhisattva aims to save.[15]
From: The 6th Patriarch Platform Sutra
(1) Living entities capable of perception and experience, often the focus of Buddhist compassion and teaching.[16] (2) Living creatures that have the capacity for perception and experience, which can lead them towards enlightenment.[17] (3) The various negative aspects of the mind such as delusion and evil that one aims to deliver.[18] (4) All living entities endowed with consciousness who can benefit from spiritual teachings and practices.[19]
From: Shurangama Sutra (with commentary) (English)
(1) Living entities that possess awareness, a classification the cultivator wrongly attributes to plants.[20] (2) Creatures that have the capacity for perception or consciousness, who can realize Buddhahood.[21]
From: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
(1) Sattva, a term used to denote individual living entities, which are often misunderstood to be distinct from the five skandhas.[22]
From: The Great Chariot
(1) All conscious entities capable of experiencing suffering and the benefits of the nirmanakayas.[23] (2) Conscious entities that experience existence, often discussed in terms of liberation and suffering.[24] (3) All conscious entities that experience suffering and joy and are the primary focus of compassion in Buddhist teachings.[25] (4) Entities possessing consciousness within the six realms, encompassing all forms of life that experience joy and sorrow.[26] (5) Any living creature capable of feeling, to which practitioners should not do harm after taking refuge.[27]
From: Abhidhamma in Daily Life (by Ashin Janakabhivamsa)
(1) Living entities that possess the ability to experience feelings and sensations, particularly those that suffer.[28] (2) Any living entities that have the capacity for perception and consciousness.[29] (3) Living entities that possess consciousness and can experience sensations.[30] (4) Living beings that possess consciousness and awareness, who inhabit the world.[31] (5) Living beings capable of experiencing sensations and emotions, potentially affected by kammic forces throughout their lifespan.[32]
From: Maha Buddhavamsa鈥擳he Great Chronicle of Buddhas
(1) Living entities capable of perception and feeling, whom the Buddha aimed to liberate from suffering.[33] (2) All living entities who possess consciousness, capable of experiencing suffering and happiness.[34] (3) Living creatures who are affected by defilements and are often unable to perceive the deeper truths of the Dhamma.[35] (4) Living entities that have the capacity for perception and suffering, which the Buddha aims to liberate through his teachings and actions.[36]
From: Cetasikas
(1) Individuals bound by ignorance and described in the context of experiencing suffering due to moha.[37]
From: The Doctrine of Paticcasamuppada
(1) All beings capable of perception and experience, who undergo suffering.[38]
From: The Six Yogas of Naropa
(1) These are beings that the author hopes will enter into the Unparalleled Vehicle through the merits of the well-spoken instruction.[39] (2) These are beings in the Six Paths, similar to father- and mother-like figures, and one should remember the gratitude owed to them.[40]
From: Tattvasangraha [with commentary]
(1) An entity that is aware and capable of experiencing sensations, which allows it to undergo various emotional states.[41]
Hindu concept of 'Sentient being'
In Hinduism, sentient beings are defined as conscious entities with awareness, capable of perception and sensation, contrasting with non-sentient matter. They encompass individual souls that experience a continuous cycle of creation and existence within the universe.
From: Brahma Sutras (Ramanuja)
(1) Entities that are aware and possess consciousness, in contrast to non-sentient beings.[42] (2) Living entities that possess consciousness and awareness, in contrast to non-sentient matter.[43] (3) A reference to beings that possess consciousness and the ability to experience sensations, contrasted with Prakriti.[44] (4) Living creatures that have consciousness and awareness, whose souls undergo processes of expansion and contraction based on their experiences.[45] (5) Entities that possess consciousness or awareness, which contrast with non-sentient beings in their subtle form.[46]
From: Mandukya Upanishad (Gaudapa Karika and Shankara Bhashya)
(1) Entities that are perceived as having consciousness or life; however, in the context of dreams, they are viewed as insentient and illusory objects.[47] (2) Sentient beings are conscious entities that exhibit awareness and are specifically indicated as manifestations of the Purusha.[48]
From: Mandukya Upanishad
(1) A living entity with the capacity to perceive and experience consciousness, denoting all persons without exception.[49] (2) An individual with consciousness who perceives changing states of awareness including those in dreams and waking states.[50]
From: Taittiriya Upanishad Bhashya Vartika
(1) A sentient being is characterized by vijnanam.[51]
From: Chandogya Upanishad (Shankara Bhashya)
(1) The characterization of Being as possessing consciousness, in contrast to insentient substances that cannot conceive or create.[52]
From: Taittiriya Upanishad
(1) Entities that possess consciousness and experience varying degrees of bliss, which are ultimately derived from Brahman.[53]
From: Brahma Sutras (Shankara Bhashya)
(1) Beings that possess consciousness, which are mentioned in the context of interpretation relating to the concept of two of the same class.[54]
From: Tiruvaymoli (Thiruvaimozhi): English translation
(1) Conscious entities that possess awareness and perception, existing alongside non-sentient beings as part of the Lord's creation.[55] (2) Living entities with consciousness and awareness.[56] (3) Living beings that have perception and consciousness, which are characterized by their inherent limitations and adjuncts.[57] (4) Living entities that have consciousness and awareness, which includes the exalted Brahma and other celestials.[58] (5) Living entities that possess consciousness and awareness.[59]
From: Vakyapadiya of Bhartrihari
(1) A being that has the capacity to perceive and feel, which is represented by certain roots but not necessarily by the Third person suffix.[60] (2) Entities that possess awareness, consciousness, or the ability to perceive experiences.[61] (3) An entity capable of perception or feeling, which may not be indicated by the verb form alone.[62]
From: Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi
(1) Refers to entities capable of perception and awareness, as implied by the figurative representation of insentient elements as sentient.[63]
From: Bhesajjakkhandhaka (Chapter on Medicine)
(1) All living creatures capable of perception and experience, often referenced in Buddhist teachings regarding compassion and well-being.[64]
From: Yoga Vasistha [English], Volume 1-4
(1) All entities with perception, asserting that even lifeless forms possess a connection to consciousness through their relation to the divine.[65]
Jain concept of 'Sentient being'
In Jainism, a Sentient being is a conscious entity capable of experiencing pain, emotions, and sensations, encompassing humans, animals, and divine beings. Such entities are deserving of compassion due to their awareness and experience of suffering.
From: Sutrakritanga (English translation)
(1) Conscious entities that experience pain and suffering, including humans, animals, and divine beings.[66] (2) Living creatures that possess the ability to perceive sensations and have awareness.[67] (3) A living entity that possesses consciousness and can experience sensations and emotions and thus should be treated with compassion.[68]
The concept of Sentient being in local and regional sources
The term "Sentient being" refers to entities capable of perception and emotion, as guided by Bon religion teachers, and denotes conscious beings in contrast to non-sentient matter.
From: Triveni Journal
(1) The highest commandment is that of sympathy for all sentient beings, as expressed in the text.[69] (2) A being that possesses consciousness, as opposed to non-sentient matter.[70]
From: The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda
(1) The Vedantist solution involves a sentient being as the motive power, which makes the mind think and Nature work, because Nature is insentient.[71]