Vimokshamukha, Vimok?amukha, Vimoksha-mukha: 4 definitions
Introduction:
Vimokshamukha means something in Buddhism, Pali. 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.
The Sanskrit term Vimok?amukha can be transliterated into English as Vimoksamukha or Vimokshamukha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraVimok?amukha (??????????) refers to the ¡°three gates of deliverance¡±, according to the 2nd century Mah¨¡praj?¨¡p¨¡ramit¨¡?¨¡stra chapter 40.¡ªAccordingly: The Buddha utters the lion¡¯s roar. He is like the king of the lions (²õ¾±?³ó²¹°ù¨¡Âá²¹). [...] The Buddha-lion is very similar. [...] The three gates of deliverance (vimok?amukha) are the fore-part of his body with firm flesh. The three wonders are his long spine. The perfection of the sciences and practices is his invisible belly. Patience is his narrow waist. The practice of solitude is his long tail. The four foundations of magical power are his well-planted paws. The five faculties of the a?aik?a are his sharp claws. [...]
: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganaga?japarip?cch¨¡Vimok?amukha (??????????) refers to the ¡°(three) gates of liberation¡±, according to the Gaganaga?japarip?cch¨¡: the eighth chapter of the Mah¨¡sa?nip¨¡ta (a collection of Mah¨¡y¨¡na Buddhist S¨±tras).¡ªAccordingly, ¡°How then, son of good family, does the Bodhisattva who has attained memory never forget? Son of good family, the Bodhisattva attains memory (»å³ó¨¡°ù²¹?¨©) by purifying his memory. What then is the purification of memory? Son of good family, there are thirty-two purifications of memory. What are the thirty-two? [...] (25) entering into what is to be done; (26) no fear reflecting on thoughts concerning the three gates of liberation (tri-vimok?amukha); (27) never cutting off the [fourfold] sources of holiness by possessing the qualities of purity; (28) no despondency to uphold the true religion; [...]¡±.
Mahayana (??????, mah¨¡y¨¡na) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many ²õ¨±³Ù°ù²¹²õ of which some of the earliest are the various Praj?¨¡p¨¡ramit¨¡ ²õ¨±³Ù°ù²¹²õ.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
: Brill: ?aivism and the Tantric Traditions (tantric Buddhism)Vimok?amukha (??????????) refers to the ¡°(four) liberation faces¡±, according to the N¨¡mamantr¨¡rth¨¡valokin¨© by Vil¨¡savajra, which is a commentary on the N¨¡masa?g¨©ti.¡ªAccordingly, [while describing Mah¨¡vairocana]¡ª¡°And then [the S¨¡dhaka should visualise] Mah¨¡vairocana on the principal seat, generated by means of the syllable ¨¡?. [Why has he four faces?] Since consciousness¡ªwhich is of the nature of the Dharma-Sphere since, by its nature, it lacks such forms as the grasped [i.e., the subject-object duality]¡ªis four-faced. [This is] because the four liberation faces [/doors] (catur-vimok?amukha)¡ªemptiness and the rest¡ªare the cause of the origination of all meditative concentrations, [and this in turn is] because their ground is the Dharma-Sphere. [...]¡±.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha¡¯s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (±¹²¹Âá°ù²¹²â¨¡²Ô²¹) are collected indepently.
General definition (in Buddhism)
: eScholarship: Meditation, Repentance, and Visionary Experience in Early Medieval Chinese BuddhismVimok?amukha (??????????).¡ªA reoccurring case is the ¡°three gates to deliverance¡± (san jie tuo men Èþ½âÍÑÃÅ; vimok?a-mukha), three essentials steps along the path in which the meditator has insight into ¡°emptiness¡± (?³Ü²Ô²â²¹³Ù¨¡) ¡°signlessness¡± (animitta), and ¡°desirelessness¡± (apra?ihita).
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Vimoksha, Mukha.
Full-text: Apranihita, Sarvatragaminipratipad, Vimoksha, Gambhiradharma.
Relevant text
Search found 5 books and stories containing Vimokshamukha, Vimok?amukha, Vimoksha-mukha, Vimok?a-mukha, Vimoksa-mukha, Vimoksamukha; (plurals include: Vimokshamukhas, Vimok?amukhas, mukhas, Vimoksamukhas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Ch?dr?n)
Preliminary note on the three meditative stabilizations (sam¨¡dhi) < [Class 1: The three meditative stabilizations]
I. Position of Bodhisattva (bodhisattvaniy¨¡ma) < [IX. Entering into the assurance of Bodhisattva]
II. ¡®Inexhaustible¡¯ root < [Part 4 - Planting inexhaustible roots of good]
Dasabhumika Sutra (translation and study) (by Hwa Seon Yoon)
Stage 10: Dharmamegha Bhumi < [Chapter 2 - Study: Summary of the Ten Stages]
Abhidharmako?a (by Leo M. Pruden)
Tibetan Manuscripts on Mandala and Mudra in Copenhagen Library < [Volume 23 (1958)]