absolutive, feminine (& ~a masculine?) · abhiññā 1 · abhiññā 2
special knowledge
Abhiññā 1 (feminine) [from abhi + jñā, see jānāti]. Rare in the older texts. It appears in two contexts. Firstly, certain conditions are said to conduce (inter alia) to serenity, to special knowledge (abhiññā), to special wisdom, and to Nibbāna. These conditions precedent are the Path (S V 421 = Vin I 10 = S IV 331), the Path + best knowledge and full emancipation (A V 238), the Four Applications of Mindfullness (S V 179) and the Four Steps to Iddhi (S V 255). The contrary is three times stated; wrong-doing, priestly superstitions, and vain speculation do not conduce to abhiññā and the rest (D III 131; A III 325 f. and V 216). Secondly, we find a list of what might now be called psychic powers. It gives us 1. Iddhi (cf. levitation); 2. the heavenly Ear (cf. clairaudience); 3. knowing others' thoughts (cf. thought-reading); 4. recollecting one's previous births; 5. knowing other people's rebirths; 6. certainty of emancipation already attained (cf. final assurance). This list occurs only at D III 281 as a list of abhiññās. It stands there in a sort of index of principal subjects appended at the end of the Dīgha, and belongs therefore to the very close of the Nikāya period. But it is based on older material. Descriptions of each of the six, not called abhiññā's, and interspersed by expository sentences or paragraphs, are found at D I 89 f. (translation D.B. I 89 feminine); M I 34 (see Buddhist Suttas, 210 feminine); A I 255, 258 = III 17, 280 = IV 421. At S I 191; Vin II 16; Pp 14, we have the adjective chaḷabhiññā ("endowed with the 6 Apperceptions"). At S II 216 we have five, and at S V 282, 290 six abhiññā's mentioned in glosses to the text. And at S II 217, 222 a bhikkhu claims the 6 powers. See also M II 11; III 96. It is from these passages that the list at D III has been made up, and called abhiññā's. Afterwards the use of the word becomes stereotyped. In the Old commentaries (in the canon), in the later ones (of the 5th ceneuter A.D.), and in medieval and modern Pāli, abhiññā, nine times out ten, means just the powers given in this list. Here and there we find glimpses of the older, wider meaning of special, supernormal power of apperception and knowledge to be acquired by long training in life aud thought. See Nidd I 108, 328 (explanation of ñāṇa); Nidd II sub voce and No. 466; Paṭis I 35; II 156, 189; Vibh 228, 334; Pp 14; Nett 19, 20; Miln 342; Vism 373; Mhv 11,19; Sv I 175; Dhp-a II 49; IV 30; Saddh 228, 470, 482. See also the discussion in the Cpd. 60 sp., 224 f. For the phrase sayaṃ abhiññā sacchikatvā and abhiññā-vosita see abhijānāti. The late phrase yath'abhiññaṃ means "as you please, according to liking, as you like", Ja V 365 (= yathādhippāyaṃ yathāruciṃ commentary). For abhiññā in the use of an adjective (°abhiñña) see abhiñña. Abhiññā 2 gerund of abhijānāti.
higher or special knowledge; true understanding; a special or supernatural power or knowledge (five (or six): iddhividhā, dibbasota, paracittavijānana, pubbenivāsānussati, dibbacakkhu, + āsavānam khaye ñaṇaṁ); idea; intention; name; mark
【陰】 特別的知識，非凡的力量，神通。
(fem, fem, abstr, from abhijānāti) direct knowledge; higher understanding; specialized knowledge special knowledge [lit.] complete knowledge Construction: abhi + √ñā + ā
(fem, fem, abstr, from abhijānāti) psychic power; supernormal ability supernormal power [lit.] complete knowledge Construction: abhi + √ñā + ā
(ger, ger of abhijānāti) directly knowing; understanding experientially having understood well [lit.] completely knowing Construction: abhi + √ñā + ya > ñā