Magga: 10 definitions
Introduction:
Magga means something in Buddhism, Pali, Jainism, Prakrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
: Access to Insight: A Glossary of Pali and Buddhist TermsPath. Specifically, the path to the cessation of suffering and stress. The four transcendent paths - or rather, one path with four levels of refinement - are the path to stream entry (entering the stream to nibbana, which ensures that one will be reborn at most only seven more times), the path to once returning, the path to non returning, and the path to arahantship. See phala.
: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper NamesPath. see Noble Eightfold Path or Magga Sutta
: Dhamma Dana: Pali English GlossaryM (Path, journey (in the abstract sense), research). Path leading to nibbana. The simple fact to dedicate oneself to the search of something. magga is also the name that is given to the realisation of a stage of ariya (obtained following an experience of nibbana). / That which is likely to eradicate the kilelas.
: Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines'path'.
- 1. For the 4 supermundane paths (lokuttara-magga), s. ariya-puggala -
- 2. The Eightfold Path (atthangika-magga) is the path leading to the extinction of suffering, i.e. the last of the 4 Noble Truths (sacca), namely:
听
Wisdom (pa帽帽膩) III.
- 1. Right view (samm膩-ditthi)
- 2. Right thought (samm膩-sankappa)
Morality (s墨la) I.
- 3. Right speech (samm膩-v膩c膩)
- 4. Right bodily action (samm膩-kammanta)
- 5. Right livelihood (samm膩-膩j墨va)
Concentration (sam膩dhi) II.
- 6. Right effort (samm膩-v膩y膩ma)
- 7. Right mindfulness (samm膩-sati)
- 8. Right concentration (samm膩-sam膩dhi)
听
- Right view or right understanding (samm膩-ditthi) is the understanding of the 4 Noble Truths about the universality of suffering (unsatisfactoriness), of its origin, its cessation, and the path leading to that cessation. - See the Discourse on 'Right Understanding' (M. 9, tr. and Com. in 'R. Und.').
- Right thought (samm膩-sankappa): thoughts free from sensuous desire, from ill-will, and cruelty.
- Right speech (samm膩-v膩c膩): abstaining from lying, tale-bearing, harsh language, and foolish babble.
- Right bodily action (samm膩-kammanta): abstaining from killing, stealing, and unlawful sexual intercourse.
- Right livelihood (samm膩-膩j墨va): abstaining from a livelihood that brings harm to other beings, such as trading in arms, in living beings, intoxicating drinks, poison; slaughtering, fishing, soldiering, deceit, treachery soothsaying, trickery, usury, etc.
- Right effort (samm膩-v膩y膩ma): the effort of avoiding or overcoming evil and unwholesome things, and of developing and maintaining wholesome things (s. padh膩na).
- Right mindfulness (samm膩-sati): mindfulness and awareness in contemplating body, feelings, mind, and mind-objects (s. sati, satipatth膩na).
- Right concentration (samm膩-sam膩dhi): concentration of mind associated with wholesome (kusala) consciousness, which eventually may reach the absorptions (jh膩na). Cf. sam膩dhi.
There are to be distinguished 2 kinds of concentration, mundane (lokiya) and supermundane (lokuttara) concentration. The latter is associated with those states of consciousness known as the 4 supermundane paths and fruitions (s. ariya-puggala). As it is said in M.117:
"I tell you, o monks, there are 2 kinds of right view: the understanding that it is good to give alms and offerings, that both good and evil actions will bear fruit and will be followed by results.... This, o monks, is a view which, though still subject to the cankers, is meritorious, yields worldly fruits, and brings good results. But whatever there is of wisdom, of penetration, of right view conjoined with the path - the holy path being pursued, this is called the supermundane right view (lokuttara-samm膩-ditthi), which is not of the world, but which is supermundane and conjoined with the path."
In a similar way the remaining links of the path are to be understood.
As many of those who have written about the Eightfold Path have misunderstood its true nature, it is therefore appropriate to add here a few elucidating remarks about it, as this path is fundamental for the understanding and practice of the Buddha's teaching.
First of all, the figurative expression 'path' should not be interpreted to mean that one has to advance step by step in the sequence of the enumeration until, after successively passing through all the eight stages, one finally may reach one's destination, Nibb膩na. If this really were the case, one should have realized, first of all, right view and penetration of the truth, even before one could hope to proceed to the next steps, right thought and right speech; and each preceding stage would be the indispensable foundation and condition for each succeeding stage. In reality, however, the links 3-5 constituting moral training (s墨la), are the first 3 links to be cultivated, then the links 6-8 constituting mental training (sam膩dhi), and at last right view, etc. constituting wisdom (pa帽帽膩).
It is, however, true that a really unshakable and safe foundation to the path is provided only by right view which, starting from the tiniest germ of faith and knowledge, gradually, step by step, develops into penetrating insight (vipassan膩) and thus forms the immediate condition for the entrance into the 4 supermundane paths and fruits of holiness, and for the realization of Nibb膩na. Only with regard to this highest form of supermundane insight, may we indeed say that all the remaining links of the path are nothing but the outcome and the accompaniments of right view.
Regarding the mundane (lokiya) eightfold path, however, its links may arise without the first link, right view.
Here it must also be emphasized that the links of the path not only do not arise one after the other, as already indicated, but also that they, at least in part, arise simultaneously as inseparably associated mental factors in one and the same state of consciousness. Thus, for instance, under all circumstances at least 4 links are inseparably bound up with any karmically wholesome consciousness, namely 2, 6, 7 and 8, i.e. right thought, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration (M. 117), so that as soon as any one of these links arises, the three others also do so. On the other hand, right view is not necessarily present in every wholesome state of consciousness.
Magga is one of the 24 conditions (s. paccaya 18).
Literature:
- The Noble Eightfold Path and its Factors Explained, by Ledi Sayadaw (WHEEL 245/247). -
- The Buddha's Ancient Path, by Piyadassi Thera (BPS).-
- The Noble Eightfold Path, by Bhikkhu Bodhi (WHEEL 308/311).
Magga (鈥減ath鈥�):鈥攁nd not-path, the knowledge and vision regarding: s. visuddhi (V).
: Pali Kanon: A manual of AbhidhammaPali for 'paths';
Therav膩da is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarymagga : (m.) oath; road; way.
: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryMagga, (cp. Epic Sk. m膩rga, fr. 尘峁沢 to track, trace) 1. a road (usually high road), way, foot-path Vism. 708 (magga峁� agata-pubba-purisa, simile of); VbhA. 256 (tiyojana掳, simile of a man travelling); DhA. I, 229.鈥�补诲诲丑腻苍补掳 high road Vin. IV, 62; M. III, 158; see under addh膩na; 补苍迟腻谤补-magge on the road Miln. 16; 耻箩耻办补掳 a straight way S. I, 33; DhA. I, 18; ummagga (a) a conduit; (b) a devious way: see ummagga, to which add refs. J. V, 260; Th. 2, 94; kummagga a wrong path: see kum掳, to which add S. IV, 195; Th. 1, 1174. 辫补蝉蝉腻惫补掳 & 惫补肠肠补掳 defecation & urination Vin. III, 127; 惫颈蝉补尘补掳 a bad road S. I, 48.鈥�2. the road of moral & good living, the path of righteousness, with ref. to the moral standard (cp. the 10 commandments) & the way to salvation. The exegetic (edifying) etym. of magga in this meaning is 鈥渘ibb膩n鈥檃tthikehi magg墨yati (traced by those who are looking for N.), 苍颈产产腻苍补峁� v膩 maggeti, kilese v膩 m膩rento gacchat墨 ti maggo鈥� (VbhA. 114). 鈥�-鈥� Usually designated (a) the 鈥�ariya 补峁弓丑补峁単颈办补 magga鈥� or the 鈥淣oble Eightfold Path鈥� (see 补峁弓丑补峁単颈办补). It is mentioned at many places, & forms the corner-stone of the Buddha鈥檚 teaching as to the means of escaping 鈥渄ukkha鈥� or the ills of life. It consists of 8 constituents, viz. samm膩-di峁弓hi, samm膩-sa峁卥appa, 掳v膩c膩, 掳kammanta, 掳膩j墨va, 掳v膩y膩ma, 掳sati, 掳sam膩dhi, or right views, right aspirations, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right rapture. The 7 first constituents are at D. II, 216 & M. III, 71 enumerated as requisites for samm膩-sam膩dhi. The name of this table of ethical injunctions is given as 鈥渕aggam uttama峁冣�� at Sn. 1130, i.e. the Highest Path. See for ref. e.g. Vin. III, 93; IV, 26; D. II, 353; III, 102, 128, 284, 286; It. 18; Nd1 292; Nd2 485; Vbh. 104 sq. 235 sq. , VbhA. 114 sq. (its constituents in detail), 121, 216; Vism. 509 sq. (where the 8 constituents are discussed).鈥�(b) as ariya magga: M. III, 72; Pug. 17; DA. I, 176 sq. , 225 sq. , 233; VbhA. 373 sq.; ThA. 205. 鈥�-鈥� (c) as 辫补帽肠补峁単颈办补 or the Path of 5 constituents (the above first 2 and last 3): Dhs. 89; Vbh. 110 sq. , 237 sq.鈥�(d) other expressions of same import: 诲丑补尘尘补掳 Miln. 21; magga alone; S. I, 191 (Bhagav膩 maggassa upp膩det膩 etc.)=M. III, 9=S. III, 66; Sn. 429, 441, 724 sq. , 1130; Dh. 57, 273 sq. , It. 106; VbhA. 53, 73. As the first condition & initial stage to the attainment of Arahantship (Nibb膩na) it is often found in sequence of either magga-phala-nirodha (e.g. Vism. 217, cp. Nd2 under dukkha II. p. 168), or magga, phala, 苍颈产产腻苍补 (e.g. Tikp. 155 sq. , 158; VbhA. 43, 316, 488).鈥攎agga as entrance to Arahantship is the final stage in the recognition (帽膩峁嘺, pari帽帽膩, pa帽帽膩) of the truth of the causal chain, which realises the origin of 鈥渋ll, 鈥� the possibility of its removal & the 鈥渨ay鈥� to the removal. These stages are described as dukkhe 帽腻峁嘺峁�, samudaye 帽腻峁嘺峁� nirodhe 帽腻峁嘺峁� and magge 帽腻峁嘺峁� at D. III, 227, Ps. I, 118. At the latter passage the foll. chapter (I. 49) gives dukkha-nirodha g膩min墨 pa峁璱pad膩 as identical with magga.鈥擭ote. On the term see Cpd. 41 sq. , 66 sq. , 175, 186; Dhs. trsl. 2 58, 299 sq. , 362 sq.; Expos. 216, 354n. On passages with 补峁弓丑补峁単颈办补 magga & others where magga is used in similes see Mrs. Rh. D. in J. P. T. S. 1907, pp. 119, 120.鈥�3. Stage of righteousness, with ref. to the var. conditions of Arahantship divided into 4 stages, viz. 蝉辞迟腻辫补迟迟颈-magga, 蝉补办补诲腻驳腻尘颈掳, 补苍腻驳腻尘颈掳, 补谤补丑补迟迟补掳, or the stage of entering the stream (of salvation), that of returning once, that of the never-returner, that of Arahantship.鈥擜t DhA. I, 110 magga-phala 鈥渢he fruit of the Path鈥� (i.e. the attainment of the foundation or first step of Arahantship) is identical with 蝉辞迟腻辫补迟迟颈辫丑补濒补 on p. 113 (a) in general: 补谤补丑补迟迟补掳 S. I, 78; A. III, 391; DA. I, 224.鈥�(b) in particular as the 4 paths: Nd2 612 A; Vbh. 322 sq. , 328, 335; Vism. 453, 672鈥�-鈥� 678; DhA. IV, 30; VbhA. 301.鈥�4. In the Tikapa峁弓h膩na (under magga-paccaya-niddesa p. 52) 12 constituents of magga are enumerated; viz. pa帽帽膩, vitakka, samm膩v膩c膩, s-kammanta, s-膩j墨va, viriya, sati, sam膩dhi, micch膩-di峁弓hi, micch膩-v膩c膩, m-kammanta, m-膩j墨va.
Pali is the language of the Tipi峁璦ka, which is the sacred canon of Therav膩da Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha鈥檚 speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Prakrit-English dictionary
: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary1) Magga (啶啷嵿) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: 惭腻谤驳补测补.
2) Magga (啶啷嵿) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Mag.
3) Magga (啶啷嵿) also relates to the Sanskrit word: 惭腻谤驳补.
4) Magga (啶啷嵿) also relates to the Sanskrit word: 惭腻谤驳补.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
: Alar: Kannada-English corpusMagga (嗖矖喑嵿矖):鈥�
1) [noun] a hand-operated or power-driven apparatus for weaving fabrics, containing harnesses, lay, reed, shuttles, treadles, etc.; a loom.
2) [noun] a tax levied on looms.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+22): Madhuka, Magadha, Magga Citta, Magga Paccaya, Magga Samyutta, Magga Sutta, Magga Vagga, Maggabhavana, Maggadayaka, Maggadesaka, Maggadesin, Maggadhamma, Maggadhira, Maggadusi, Maggadusin, Maggajina, Maggajivin, Maggajjhayin, Maggakilanta, Maggakkhayi.
Full-text (+691): Madhuka, Magadha, Ummagga, Panha, Apamagga, Nittha, Maggannu, Maggika, Maggavidu, Ariya Magga, Magganana, Magga Citta, Dhammamagga, Maggadusi, Aggamagga, Kantaramagga, Maggattha, Janghamagga, Maggadayaka, Magganaya.
Relevant text
Search found 75 books and stories containing Magga, Maggas, Majja-na, Majja-峁嘺; (plurals include: Maggas, Maggases, nas, 峁嘺s). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Maha Buddhavamsa鈥擳he Great Chronicle of Buddhas (by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw)
Part 5 - The Six Supreme Attributes of the Dhamma < [Chapter 42 - The Dhamma Ratan膩]
Part 37 - The Practice Conducive to the Attainment of the Supramundane < [Chapter 40 - The Buddha Declared the Seven Factors of Non-Decline for Rulers]
Buddha attributes (4): Sugato < [Chapter 42 - The Dhamma Ratan膩]
Dhammapada (Illustrated) (by Ven. Weagoda Sarada Maha Thero)
Verse 218 - The Story of an An膩g膩mi Venerable < [Chapter 16 - Piya Vagga (Affection)]
Verse 35 - The Story of a Certain Monk < [Chapter 3 - Citta Vagga (Mind)]
Verse 386 - The Story of a Certain Br膩hmin < [Chapter 26 - Br膩hma峁嘺 Vagga (The Br膩hma峁嘺)]
The Buddhist Path to Enlightenment (study) (by Dr Kala Acharya)
2.9. Sacc膩-帽膩峁嘺, Kicca-帽膩峁嘺 and Kata-帽膩峁嘺 with regard to Magga-sacc膩 < [Chapter 3 - Seven Factors of Enlightenment and Noble Eightfold Path]
2(b). The Noble Eightfold Path (Ariya-补峁弓丑补峁単颈办补-magga) < [Chapter 3 - Seven Factors of Enlightenment and Noble Eightfold Path]
6.4. Four Aspects of Nibb膩na < [Chapter 4 - Comparative Study of Liberation in Jainism and Buddhism]
Patthana Dhamma (by Htoo Naing)
Chapter 22 - Magga paccayo (or path condition)
Chapter 16 - 膧sevana paccaya (or repeatition condition)
Buddhist Perspective on the Development of Social Welfare (by Ashin Indacara)
10. The Four Supreme Efforts (Four Sammappadh膩na) < [Chapter 1 - The Accomplishment of Persistent Effort and Watchfulness or Protection]
13. How to Fulfill S墨la < [Chapter 5 - The Accomplishment of Virtue and Wisdom]
6. Sikkh膩pada: Steps of Training, Moral Rules < [Chapter 5 - The Accomplishment of Virtue and Wisdom]
Introduction to Dhammasangani (by U Ko Lay)
Liberation < [Division I - Cittuppada Kanda]