Anicca: 12 definitions
Introduction:
Anicca means something in Buddhism, Pali, Jainism, Prakrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
: Access to Insight: A Glossary of Pali and Buddhist TermsInconstant; unsteady; impermanent.: Dhamma Dana: Pali English GlossaryT (That doesnt last). Characteristic of impermanence in all things.
anicca is an unescapable law owing to the fact that all that which does appear in the world or to consciousness must forcibly have an origination, a certain duration and enter un stage of decay. Here we deal with the second among the three characteristics.
See also: anicca
: Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines'impermanent' (or, as abstract noun, aniccat膩, 'impermanence') is the first of the three characteristics of existence (tilakkhana, q.v.). It is from the fact of impermanence that, in most texts, the other two characteristics, suffering (dukkha) and not-self (anatt膩), are derived (S.22. 15; Ud.IV. I)
"Impermanence of things is the rising, passing and changing of things, or the disappearance of things that have become or arisen. The meaning is that these things never persist in the same way, but that they are vanishing dissolving from moment to moment" (Vis.M. VII, 3).
Impermanence is a basic feature of all conditioned phenomena, be they material or mental, coarse or subtle, one's own or external: All formations are impermanent" (sabbe sankh膩r膩 anicc膩; M. 35, Dhp. 277). That the totality of existence is impermanent is also often stated in terms of the five aggregates (khandha, q.v.), the twelve personal and external sense bases (膩yatana q.v.), etc. Only Nibb膩na (q.v.), which is unconditioned and not a formation (asankhata), is permanent (nicca, dhuva).
The insight leading to the first stage of deliverance, Stream-entry (sot膩patti; s. ariya-puggala), is often expressed in terms of impermanence: "Whatever is subject to origination, is subject to cessation" (s. Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, S.46. 11). In his last exhortation, before his Parinibb膩na, the Buddha reminded his monks of the impermanence of existence as a spur to earnest effort: "Behold now, Bhikkhus, I exhort you: Formations are bound to vanish. Strive earnestly!" (vayadhamm膩 sankh膩r膩, appam膩dena samp膩detha; D. 16).
Without the deep insight into the impermanence and insubstantiality of all phenomena of existence there is no attainment of deliverance. Hence comprehension of impermanence gained by direct meditative experience heads two lists of insight knowledge:聽
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(a) contemplation of impermanence (anicc膩nupassan膩) is the first of the 18 chief kinds of insight (q.v.);聽
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(b) the contemplation of arising and vanishing (udayabbay膩nupassan膩-帽膩na) is the first of 9 kinds of knowledge which lead to the 'purification by knowledge and vision of the path-progress' (s. visuddhi, VI). -聽
Contemplation of impermanence leads to the conditionless deliverance (animitta-vimokkha; s. vimokkha). As herein the faculty of confidence (saddhindriya) is outstanding, he who attains in that way the path of Stream-entry is called a faith-devotee (saddh膩nus膩r墨; s. ariya-puggala) and at the seven higher stages he is called faith-liberated (saddh膩-vimutta), - See also anicca-sa帽帽膩.
See The Three Basic Facts of Existence I: Impermanence (WHEEL 186/187)
Therav膩da is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Buddhism础苍颈肠肠补:鈥擨尘辫别谤尘补苍别苍肠别
: WikiPedia: BuddhismImpermanence is one of the essential doctrines or Three marks of existence in Buddhism. The term expresses the Buddhist notion that every conditioned existence, without exception, is inconstant and in flux, even gods.
(Sanskrit: anitya; Pali: anicca; Tibetan: mi rtag pa; Chinese: wuchang; Japanese: mujo; Thai: anitchang)
According to the impermanence doctrine, human life embodies this flux in the aging process, the cycle of birth and rebirth (samsara), and in any experience of loss. The doctrine further asserts that because things are impermanent, attachment to them is futile, and leads to suffering (dukkha). Under the impermanence doctrine, all compounded and constructed things and states are impermanent.
Buddhists hold that the only true end of impermanence is nirvana, the reality that knows no change, decay or death.
Impermanence is intimately associated with the doctrine of anatta, according to which things have no fixed nature, essence, or self.
: Buddhism Tourism: Glossary of Buddhist TermsOne amongst the traditional three marks of conditioned existence taught in Buddhas second sermon. Most simply, it it implies that everything is in contual process of change.
: Amaravati: Glossary(a nic cah)impermanent, transitory; one of the three characteristics of all worldly phenomena, according to the Buddha
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve ReflectionsA峁噄cca (啶呧ぃ啶苦啷嵿) [=补峁噄肠肠补迟迟补?] (Sanksrit: Anitya) refers to 鈥�(reflection on) impermanence鈥� and represents one of the four types of 鈥渧irtuous meditation鈥� (诲丑补尘尘补箩丑腻峁嘺), a classification of the 鈥渕editation鈥� (Jh膩峁嘺), according to the Sth膩n膩峁単a S奴tra chapter 4.1.鈥擳he classification of meditation in the Sth膩n膩峁単a S奴tra comprises four kinds [e.g. 鈥渧irtuous鈥� (dhamma/dharma)]. [...] The four reflections that are prescribed for virtuous meditation are (诲丑补尘尘补箩丑腻峁嘺), [e.g., reflection on impermanence (补峁噄肠肠补-补峁嘘辫辫别丑腻/补苍颈迟测补-补苍耻辫谤别办峁Ｄ�), ...].鈥擟f Aupap膩tika S奴tra and Bhagavat墨 (Bhagava墨), also known as the Vy膩khy膩praj帽apti (Viy膩hapannatti).
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, 鈥榮elf-reliance鈥�) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryanicca : (adj.) not stable; impermanent.
: Sutta: Pali Word Grammar from Pali Myanmar Dictionaryanicca (醼♂�斸��呩�贯��) [(ti) (醼愥��)]鈥�
[(1) na+nicca. (2) na+icca. (anitya-sa峁�)]
[(醽�) 醼�+醼斸��呩�贯�呩亱 (醽�) 醼�+醼ａ�呩�贯�呩亱 (醼♂�斸��愥��-醼炨��)]
[Pali to Burmese]
: Sutta: Tipi峁璦ka P膩岣穒-Myanmar Dictionary (醼愥��曖��嬦��-醼曖��犪��欋�坚�斸�横�欋�� 醼♂�樶��撫��斸��)补苍颈肠肠补鈥�
(Burmese text): [(醽�) 醼�+醼斸��呩�贯�呩亱 (醽�) 醼�+醼ａ�呩�贯�呩亱 (醼♂�斸��愥��-醼炨��)]
醼欋�欋�坚�册�炨�贬�亰 醼♂�欋�坚�册�欋�涐�踞��炨�贬�亰-醼愥�涐��羔亰 醼佱�斸�贯�撫�� 醽�-醼曖��羔亱 (醽�) (醼�) 醼欋�愥�娽�横�欋�坚�册�炨�贬�亱 (醽�) 醼欋��醼曖�横�涐�贬���醼横�♂�曖�横�炨�贬�亱 (醼�) 醼欋�佱���勧�横�欋�坚�册�炨�贬���醼坚�贬��勧�丰�� 醼め�炨�勧�横�贯�佱��涐�愥���丰�炨�娽�� 醼勧�亸 醼佱�会�欋�横�羔�炨��炨��佱�愥�娽�横�羔�熱�� 醼欋�佱�会�夅�横�羔��醼曖�横�♂�曖�横�炨�贬�亱 (醼�) 醼愥�佱�忈�欋�会�踞�炨�� 醼愥�娽�横�炨�栣�坚�勧�丰�横亷醼勧�横�� 醼♂�佱��佱�曖�横�炨��欋�横�羔�栣�坚�呩�横�溼�贬�丰�欋�涐�踞��炨�栣�坚�勧�丰�横亷醼勧�横�� 醼欋�佱�会�夅�横�羔��醼曖�横�♂�曖�横�炨�贬�亱
(Auto-Translation): (1) Non-permanent. (2) Non-existent. (Without attachment - sound) Not stable, not always present, - phenomena, five aggregates. (1) (a) Unstable. (2) Not necessarily present. (a) Because it is not firm and stable, these aggregates should not be clung to as my lasting happiness. (b) Being only temporarily established, they are subject to constant change and should not be clung to.
Pali is the language of the Tipi峁璦ka, which is the sacred canon of Therav膩da Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha鈥檚 speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Prakrit-English dictionary
: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionaryA峁噄cca (啶呧ぃ啶苦啷嵿) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Anitya.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+11): Anicca Sutta, Anicca Vagga, Anicca-lakkhana, Aniccadassavi, Aniccadhamma, Aniccadhamma Sutta, Aniccadika, Aniccadisabhava, Aniccadiviparinama, Aniccadiviparinamasabhava, Aniccadiviparinamasabhavatta, Aniccai, Aniccaippirarattam, Aniccakammatthana, Aniccakammatthanika, Aniccakara, Aniccanupassana, Aniccanupassi, Aniccanuppeha, Aniccapatisamvedi.
Full-text (+48): Aniccatta, Aniccasila, Anicca Sutta, Aniccasukhadukkhavokinna, Aniccadhamma, Anitya, Aniccakammatthana, Aniccapatisamvedi, Radhaaniccasutta, Anicca Sanna, Aniccattha, Adinavadassanapubbakaaniccadimanasikara, Anicca Vagga, Aniccasambhuta, Aniccucchadanaparimaddanabhedanaviddhamsanadhamma, Transitoriness, Aniccanupassana, Anicca-lakkhana, Aniccatasamanna, Aniccatavohara.
Relevant text
Search found 66 books and stories containing Anicca, A峁噄cca; (plurals include: Aniccas, A峁噄ccas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Buddhist Path to Enlightenment (study) (by Dr Kala Acharya)
1.8. The Practice of Bojjha峁単a < [Chapter 3 - Seven Factors of Enlightenment and Noble Eightfold Path]
1.1. The Meaning of Satipa峁弓h膩na (foundation of mindfulness) < [Chapter 2 - Five Groups of Factor]
1.2. The Four Foundations of Mindfulness (Introduction) < [Chapter 2 - Five Groups of Factor]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Ch枚dr枚n)
Preliminary note on the ten concepts (da艣a-sa峁僯帽膩) < [Chapter XXXVII - The Ten Concepts]
Appendix 3 - The theory of the laukik膩gradharma < [Chapter XXX - The Characteristics of Praj帽膩]
I. Lists of auxiliaries (bodhip膩k峁ka or bodhipakkhiya) < [Note on the Thirty-seven Auxiliaries to Enlightenment]
The five khandhas (by Ajahn Sumedho)
Vipassana Meditation (by Chanmyay Sayadaw)
Part 1 - What Is Vipassana? < [Chapter 2 - Preliminary Instructions For Meditators]
Part 3 - Mindfulness Of Consciousness < [Chapter 4 - The Four Foundations Of Mindfulness]
Part 6 - Samatha And Vipassana < [Chapter 1 - Happiness Through Right Understanding]
Introducing Buddhist Abhidhamma (by Kyaw Min, U)
Chapter 7 - Vipassana Meditation < [Part 2 - Meditation]
Chapter 4 - Mind And Matter < [Part 1 - Abhidhamma]
Chapter 6 - Right Understanding < [Part 2 - Meditation]
Vipassana Dipani (by Mahathera Ledi Sayadaw)