mudra/mudda

Textual analysis and comparative discussion on early Buddhist sects and scriptures.
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Dhammarakkhito
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mudra/mudda

Post by Dhammarakkhito »

is there support for mudras in early buddhism, you know the hand gestures that are on buddha statues like vitarka mudra where he is having a discourse or hands folded in lap or one raised palm
to me personally i believe they are real because i find myself naturally doing them; they're very specific. but that's me just would like to know if there is anything in early sutta or vinaya
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dylanj
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Re: mudra/mudda

Post by dylanj »

:shrug:
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Produced by seeking nutriment – not fit to take delight in


Departure from this is peaceful – beyond reasoning and enduring
Unborn, unarisen – free from sorrow and stain
Ceasing of all factors of suffering – stilling of all preparations is bliss
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Kim OHara
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Re: mudra/mudda

Post by Kim OHara »

Dhammarakkhito wrote: Thu Dec 21, 2017 3:39 am is there support for mudras in early buddhism, you know the hand gestures that are on buddha statues like vitarka mudra where he is having a discourse or hands folded in lap or one raised palm
to me personally i believe they are real because i find myself naturally doing them; they're very specific
Some of them are stylisations of natural gestures of welcome, etc, common across all cultures. That's one reason they may feel natural and specific.
Dhammarakkhito wrote: Thu Dec 21, 2017 3:39 am would like to know if there is anything in early sutta or vinaya
I can't recall anything in scriptures, but that's not where I would look, anyway, because I think they are more likely to show up in pictures and statuary. I know they appear in Gandharan art which dates back to the first century BCE. I don't know about anything earlier than that, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

:namaste:
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SarathW
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Re: mudra/mudda

Post by SarathW »

I wonder whether earth witness symbol is coming from EBT.

https://www.burmese-art.com/about-buddh ... rsha-mudra
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SarathW
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Re: mudra/mudda

Post by SarathW »

Buddha's hand guetures
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dylanj
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Re: mudra/mudda

Post by dylanj »

añjali
Born, become, arisen – made, prepared, short-lived
Bonded by decay and death – a nest for sickness, perishable
Produced by seeking nutriment – not fit to take delight in


Departure from this is peaceful – beyond reasoning and enduring
Unborn, unarisen – free from sorrow and stain
Ceasing of all factors of suffering – stilling of all preparations is bliss
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Dhammarakkhito
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Re: mudra/mudda

Post by Dhammarakkhito »

yes
"Just as the ocean has a single taste — that of salt — in the same way, this Dhamma-Vinaya has a single taste: that of release."
— Ud 5.5

https://www.facebook.com/noblebuddhadha ... 34/?type=3

http://seeingthroughthenet.net/
https://sites.google.com/site/santipada ... allytaught
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LG2V
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Re: mudra/mudda

Post by LG2V »

I think that they're real as well. I don't recall having read much about them in the pali canon, though. It seems to be more heavily focused on in Hindu practices.
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Coëmgenu
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Re: mudra/mudda

Post by Coëmgenu »

Dhammarakkhito wrote: Thu Dec 21, 2017 3:39 am is there support for mudras in early buddhism, you know the hand gestures that are on buddha statues like vitarka mudra where he is having a discourse or hands folded in lap or one raised palm
to me personally i believe they are real because i find myself naturally doing them; they're very specific. but that's me just would like to know if there is anything in early sutta or vinaya
Mudras, AFAIK, belong to and originate in Buddhist esoterica. As opposed to the literature this subforum specializes in.

I think the Dharmaguptaka Dīrghāgama might have some very old/seminal examples of dhāraṇī, though. Related in that they are both associated with esotericism, but not mudras.
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2600htz
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Re: mudra/mudda

Post by 2600htz »

Hello:

Mudras in buddha statues usually are a symbol for the 4 noble truths (depending on what finger is it touching).
Someone experiencing the noble truth of the cessation of suffering might have a tendency to touch with his thumb the third finger, but its not like its some kind of practice or something to be developed.

Regards.
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