Abhijna

Abhijña (Skt.; Pali, abhiñña) has been translated generally as "knowing,"Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-5), pp. 64-65. "direct knowing"Thanissaro (1994). and "direct knowledge"Bodhi (2000), e.g., SN 45.159 (pp. 1557-8). or, at times more technically, as "higher knowledge" and "supernormal knowledge." In Buddhism, such knowing and knowledge is obtained through virtuous living and meditation. In terms of specifically enumerated knowledges, these include worldly extra-sensory abilities (such as seeing past and future lives) as well as the supramundane extinction of all mental intoxicants (āsava).
== Pali literature ==
In Pali literature, abhiñña refers to both the direct apprehension of dhamma (translated below as "states" and "qualities") as well as to specialized super-normal capabilities.
===Direct knowing of dhamma===
In SN 45.159, the Buddha describes "higher knowledge" (abhiñña) as a corollary to the pursuit of the Noble Eightfold Path:Walshe (1985, 2007), passage 56, SN 45.159.
Such direct knowledge, according to the Buddha, is obscured by desire and passion (chanda-rāga):SN 27.1 (Thanissaro, 1994).
===Enumerations of special knowledges===
In the Pali Canon, the higher knowledges are often enumerated in a group of six or of three types of knowledge. 
The six types of higher knowledges (chalabhiñña) are:
# "Higher powers" (iddhi-vidhā), such as walking on water and through walls;
# "Divine ear" (dibba-sota), that is, clairaudience;
# "Mind-penetrating knowledge" (ceto-pariya-ñāa), that is, telepathy;
# "Remember one's former abodes" (pubbe-nivāsanussati), that is, recalling ones own past lives;
# "Divine eye" (dibba-cakkhu), that is, knowing others' karmic destinations; and,
# "Extinction of mental intoxicants" (āsavakkhaya), upon which arahantship. followsOrientalia (2007); Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-5), pp. 64-65, 115-116, 121-122, 272, 288-289, 372, 432; Thanissaro (1997).
The attainment of these six higher powers is mentioned in a number of discourses, most famously the "Fruits of Contemplative Life Discourse" (, DN 2).Thanissaro (1997). Other discourses that mention the six types of higher knowledge include the Kevatta Sutta (DN 11), the Lohicca Sutta (DN 12) and the Mahasakuludayi Sutta (MN 77). The first five powers are obtained through meditative concentration (samadhi) while the sixth is obtained through insight (vipassana). The sixth type is the ultimate goal of Buddhism, which is the end of all suffering and destruction of all ignorance.Encyclopædia Britannica (2007).
Similarly, the three knowledges or wisdoms ( or ) are:
# "Remember one's former abodes" (pubbe-nivāsanussati);
# "Divine eye" (dibba-cakkhu); and,
# "Extinction of mental intoxicants" (āsavakkhaya).See, for instance, Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), pp. 307, 617.
The three knowledges are mentioned in numerous discourses including the Maha-Saccaka Sutta (MN 36) in which the Buddha describes obtaining each of these three knowledges on the first, second and third watches respectively of the night of his enlightenment. These forms of knowledge typically are listed as arising after the attainment of the fourth jhana.Thanissaro (1998). Other discourses that mention the three include the Tevijja Sutta (DN 13) and the Bhaya-bherava Sutta (MN 4). 
While such powers are considered to be indicative of spiritual progress, Buddhism cautions against their indulgence or exhibition since such could divert one from the true path of obtaining suffering's release.
== Parallels in other cultures ==
The first five types of Abhijna, are similar to the siddhis of yoga, mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana and by Patanjali:
* Knowing the past, present and future; 
* Tolerance of heat, cold and other dualities;
* Knowing the minds of others; 
* Checking the influence of fire, sun, water, poison, and so on;
* Remaining unconquered by others.
==See also==
* Prajñā
* Iddhi
* Siddhi
* Vibhuti
* Miracles of Buddha
* Samaññaphala Sutta
==References==
==Sources ==
* "Abhijna" (2007). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2007-05-18 from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9003346. 
* "Abhinna" (2007). In Orientalia: Eastern Philosophy, Religion and Culture. Retrieved 2007-05-18 from Orientalia: http://www.orientalia.org/dictionary-Buddhist_Dictionary-definition22811-abhinna.html.
* Bodhi, Bhikkhu (trans.) (2000). The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Samyutta Nikaya. Boston: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-331-1.
* Rhys Davids, T.W. & William Stede (eds.) (1921-5). "" in the The Pali Text Society’s Pali–English Dictionary. Chipstead: Pali Text Society. Retrieved 2007-05-18 from Digital Dictionaries of South Asia: http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.0:1:1696.pali.
* Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1994). Upakkilesa Samyutta: Defilements (SN 27.1-10). Retrieved 2008-07-17 from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn27/sn27.001-010.than.html. 
* Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1997). Samaññaphala Sutta: The Fruits of the Contemplative Life (DN 2). Retrieved 2007-05-18 from: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.02.0.than.html.
* Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1998). Maha-Saccaka Sutta: The Longer Discourse to Saccaka (excerpt) (MN 36). Retrieved 2007-05-19 from: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.036x.than.html.
* Walshe, Maurice O'C. (1985). Samyutta Nikaya: An Anthology (Part III) (Wheel Nos. 318-21). Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society. Retrieved 2008-07-17 from "Access to Insight" (transcribed 2007) at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/walshe/wheel318.html.
Category:Buddhist terms
Category:Buddhism