Samjna (concept)
Saṃjñā (Sanskrit; Pali: "sañña") is a Buddhist term that is typically translated as "perception" or "cognition." It can be defined as grasping at the distinguishing features or characteristics. "Samjñā" has multiple meanings depending on religions. Although "Samjñā" means the five aggregates in Buddhism, in Hinduism, it refers to art traditions and in Jainism, it points to recognition distinct from cognition. "Saṃjñā" is identified within the Buddhist teachings as follows: Definitions. Theravada. Bhikkhu Bodhi states: According to the Theravada tradition, saññā experiences the same object as the citta it accompanies but it performs its own task: it 'perceives' or  'recognizes' the object and it 'marks' it so that it can be recognized again. The Atthasālinī (I, Part IV, Chapter 1, 110) provides the following two definitions for saññā: Mahayana. The Abhidharma-samuccaya states: Mipham Rinpoche states: Alexander Berzin gives the following informal explanation: Within the five aggregates. "Saṃjñā" is identified as one of the Five Aggregates, as shown in the following diagram In the Early Buddhist literature. In the early Buddhism Theravadin texts of the Nikayas/Āgamas, "saṃjñā"/"sañña" is the third of the Five Aggregates (Skt.: "skandha"; Pali: "khandha") which can be used to skillfully delineate phenomenological experiences during  meditation. Whether as one of the Five Aggregates, meditative concentration ("samādhi") on the passing and rising (P. "vipassana," S. "vipaśyanā") of sañña can lead to mindfulness (P."sati", S. "smṛti"), clear comprehension (P. "sampajanna", S. "samprajaña") enlightenment and Arhantship (see Table). In the Pali Canon, sañña is frequently defined as: In post-canonical Pali commentaries, the Visuddhimagga likens sañña to "a child without discretion." Alternate translations. Alternate translations for the term "sañña" are: