This term refers specifically to a monk who has received ordination, the highest level of monastic initiation available in the Buddhist tradition. The Sanskrit term literally means “beggar” or “mendicant,” referring to the fact that Buddhist monks and nuns—like other ascetics of the time—subsisted on alms begged from the laity.
In Buddhist literature, this is an epithet applied to buddhas, most often to Śākyamuni. The Sanskrit term generally means “possessing fortune,” but in specifically Buddhist contexts it implies that a buddha is in possession of six auspicious qualities (bhaga) associated with complete awakening. The Tibetan term—where bcom is said to refer to “subduing” the four māras, ldan to “possessing” the great qualities of buddhahood, and ’das to “going beyond” saṃsāra and nirvāṇa—possibly reflects the commentarial tradition where the Sanskrit bhagavat is interpreted, in addition, as “one who destroys the four māras.” This is achieved either by reading bhagavat as bhagnavat (“one who broke”), or by tracing the word bhaga to the root √bhañj (“to break”).
The grove in or near Kuśinagarī where the Buddha attained parinirvāṇa, it is named for the two sal trees between which the Buddha lay.
The city in or near which the Buddha attained parinirvāṇa.
The name of a tribe or clan in ancient northern India.
The “extinguishing” of suffering; the state of freedom from the suffering of saṃsāra.
The final stage of passing into nirvāṇa, which occurs when an arhat or buddha passes away.
A state of involuntary existence conditioned by afflicted mental states and the imprint of past actions, characterized by suffering in a cycle of life, death, and rebirth. On its reversal, the contrasting state of nirvāṇa is attained, free from suffering and the processes of rebirth.
’du shes bcu gcig bstan pa (Saṃjñānaikadaśanirdeśa). Toh 311, Degé Kangyur vol. 72 (mdo sde, sa), folios 157.a–157.b.
’du shes bcu gcig bstan pa. bka’ ’gyur (dpe bsdur ma) [Comparative Edition of the Kangyur], krung go’i bod rig pa zhib ’jug ste gnas kyi bka’ bstan dpe sdur khang (The Tibetan Tripitaka Collation Bureau of the China Tibetology Research Center). 108 volumes. Beijing: krung go’i bod rig pa dpe skrun khang (China Tibetology Publishing House), 2006–9, vol. 72, pp. 443–44.
’du shes bcu gcig bstan pa. Stok Palace Kangyur vol. 55 (mdo sde, nga), folios 343.b–344.a.
’du shes bcu bstan pa’i mdo [Teaching the Ten Thoughts]. Stok Palace Kangyur vol. 81 (mdo sde, a), folios 311.a–311.b.
don rgyas pa zhes bya ba’i chos kyi rnam grangs (Arthavistaradharmaparyāya). Toh 318, Degé Kangyur vol. 72 (mdo sde, sa), folios 188.a–193.b.
ri’i kun dga’ bo’i mdo (Giriyānandasūtra). Toh 38, Degé Kangyur vol. 34 (sher phyin, ka), folios 276.a–279.a.
yongs su mya ngan las ’das pa chen po’i mdo (Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra). Toh 119, Degé Kangyur vol. 52 (mdo sde, nya), folios 1.b–343.b; vol. 53 (mdo sde, ta), folios 1.b–339.a.
Denkarma (pho brang stod thang ldan dkar gyi chos kyi ’gyur ro cog gi dkar chag). Toh 4364, Degé Tengyur vol. 206 (sna tshogs, jo), folio 300.a.
Phangthangma (dkar chag ʼphang thang ma). Beijing: mi rigs dpe skrun khang, 2003.
Bhikkhu Bodhi. The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Aṅguttara Nikāya. Teachings of the Buddha. Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2012.
Collett, Alice, and Bhikkhu Anālayo. “Bhikkhave and Bhikkhu as Gender-Inclusive Terminology in Early Buddhist Texts.” Journal of Buddhist Ethics 21 (2014): 760–97.
Edgerton, Franklin. Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Grammar and Dictionary. Vol. 1, Dictionary. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1953.
Ui, Hakuju et al., eds. A Complete Catalogue of the Tibetan Buddhist Canons: Bkaḥ-ḥgyur and Bstan-ḥgyur. Sendai: Tōhoku Imperial University, 1934.