རབ་འབྱོར། | Glossary of Terms

Name of a śrāvaka elder from Śrāvastī, the younger brother of the wealthy patron Anāthapiṇḍada and one of the principal interlocutors of this text and the other Perfection of Wisdom sūtras. For more detail, see UT22084-026-001-21005–UT22084-026-001-21012. He is declared by the Buddha (in this text as well as elsewhere in the canonical literature) to be foremost among the araṇavihārin (also araṇāvihārin and araṇyavihārin), which can be taken to mean either those “dwelling free of afflicted mental states” (as in the Tib. nyon mongs pa med par gnas pa/spyod pa, Mvy. 6366) or as those “dwelling in seclusion.” He was also described as “foremost among those worthy of donations” (dakṣineyānām agryaḥ, sbyin pa’i gnas nang na mchog tu gyur pa) and in Chinese sources as “foremost in teaching emptiness” (stong nyid ston pa’i mchog tu gyur pa).

One of the ten great śrāvaka disciples of the Buddha Śākyamuni, known for his profound understanding of emptiness. He plays a major role as an interlocutor of the Buddha in the Prajñā­pāramitā­sūtras.

A foremost pupil of the Buddha, known for his wisdom.

One of the closest disciples of the Buddha.

One of the Buddha Śākyamuni’s principal pupils and a close relative of the Buddha’s famous patron Anāthapiṇḍada. According to the Pali tradition, Subhūti is considered foremost among the Buddha’s disciples for dwelling peacefully in isolated places (Pali: dakkhiṇeyyānaṃ) and being a worthy recipient of gifts (Pali: araṇa­vihārīnaṃ aggo). He is said to have become an arhat through meditative concentration on loving-kindness (Skt. maitrīdhyāna, Pali: mettajhāna). On his alms rounds, Subhūti would cultivate loving-kindness for every household he visited, and thereby he bestowed the conditions for the highest possible merit for his donors. In the Mahāyāna tradition, he is particularly known to be one of the primary interlocutors in the Prajñāpāramitā sūtras and is sometimes referred to as the foremost among the Buddha’s disciples for understanding emptiness, although as we see by his verse given in The Prophecy for Bhadra the Illusionist he still retains his association with gift giving and generosity. Pali: Subhūti

A prominent disciple of the Buddha.

One of the closest disciples of the Buddha Śākyamuni, known for his profound understanding of emptiness.

One of the monks attending this teaching in Śrāvastī, at Jeta’s Grove.

One of the closest disciples of the Buddha, known for his profound understanding of emptiness.

One of the Buddha’s foremost hearer disciples.

The name of a hearer.

A foremost pupil of the Buddha, known for his wisdom.

A foremost pupil of the Buddha, known for his wisdom.

One of the closest disciples of the Buddha, known for his profound understanding of emptiness.

One of the principal disciples of the Buddha, known for his profound understanding of emptiness.

One of the four great hearers.

One of the ten great hearer disciples of the Buddha Śākyamuni, known for his profound understanding of emptiness. He plays a major role as an interlocutor of the Buddha in the Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

Disciple noted for his profound concentration on voidness; as interlocutor of the Buddha, a major figure in the Prajñā­pāramitā­sūtras. See also UT22084-060-005-927.

One of the closest disciples of the Buddha, known for his profound understanding of emptiness.

One of the closest disciples of the Buddha.

A monk (bhikṣu) and disciple of the Buddha.

One of the closest disciples of the Buddha, known for his profound understanding of emptiness.

One of the Buddha’s foremost disciples and younger brother of the benefactor Anāthapiṇḍada; regarded as the disciple with the foremost understanding of emptiness.

One of the closest disciples of the Buddha.

A foremost pupil of the Buddha, known for his profound understanding of emptiness. He plays a major role as an interlocutor of the Buddha in the Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

One of the ten great hearer disciples of the Buddha Śākyamuni, known for his profound understanding of emptiness. He plays a major role as an interlocutor of the Buddha in the Prajñā­pāramitā­sūtras.

An interlocuter in The Dharma Council. One of the ten great śrāvaka disciples of the Buddha Śākyamuni, known for his profound understanding of emptiness. He plays a major role as an interlocutor of the Buddha in the Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

One of the closest disciples of the Buddha, known for his profound understanding of emptiness. 

A foremost pupil of the Buddha, known for his wisdom.

One of the śrāvakas attending the delivery of the MMK; one of the eight great śrāvakas.

One of the ten great śrāvaka disciples of the Buddha Śākyamuni, known for his profound understanding of emptiness. He plays a major role as an interlocutor of the Buddha in the Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

One of the ten great śrāvaka disciples of the Buddha Śākyamuni, known for his profound understanding of emptiness. He plays a major role as an interlocutor of the Buddha in the Prajñā­pāramitā­sūtras.