vajra

[Stephen Hodge]

L.S.Cousins wrote:
>
> As the weapon of Indra it is of course very old, but the
specifically
> Buddhist use seems to derive from the Vajiruupama-sutta of the
> Anguttara-nikaaya. Here the wisdom of stream-entry etc. is compared
> to lightning (vijju) i.e. it is a momentary seeing.
This is interesting -- as you know, there is also a
"vajropama-samaadhi".  In Mahaayaana exegesis, the element that seems
to be emphasized here (as far as I can tell) is the solidity
symbolized by the diamond aspect of vajra.  Given that a diamond was
also thought to be indivisible / unbreakable, it is also used as a
simile for j~naana or bodhi itself.  That is not to say that the
lightning aspect was unknown in Mahaayaana but there does seem to be a
trend in the other direction as time went by.

> The wisdom of the arahat is compared to the thunderbolt (of Indra)
because that
> shatters anything, just as the wisdom of the arahat shatters all
> afflictions (kilesa).
Further to my above comment, the stress in later Mahaayaana is on the
nirvikalpa aspect of j~naana as hence the solidity / admantine aspect
seems foremost.

> I have some doubt as to whether it was ever used in early literature
> in the sense of diamond to refer to wisdom. I am not sure off hand
as
> to the situation in Mahaayaana literature.
See the previous.

> But this may simply be gender symbolism. The pairing is simply a
> Mahaayaana development of the older pairing of the two chief
> disciples, famous for wisdom and samaadhi / psychic capacities
> respectively.
But is not Avalokite`svara always male in Indian Buddhism ?   But I
agree with you regarding the pairing you allude to.

> An excellent argument ! Since publishers can save money in this way
> by misspelling Sanskrit, perhaps they have not realized that you can
> do the same with English.
I thought this is what has happened already with US English :))

Best wishes,
Stephen Hodge