svasaṃvedana
From Buddha-Nature
Sanskrit Noun
svasaṃvedana
self-awareness
स्वसंवेदन
རང་རིག་
自證分
Basic Meaning
An important term for the Yogācāra that refers to a consciousness of consciousness itself, or how one knows that they know something. It was a hotly debated topic that was disputed by followers of the Madhyamaka. In Tibet it would later become a common Dzogchen term, though with an entirely different meaning of one's own innate awareness (rig pa), a crucial concept in the Dzogchen teachings.
Has the Sense of
Mind seeing mind. The classic example is that of a lamp that illuminates the surrounding area as well as itself.
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| Term Variations | |
|---|---|
| Key Term | svasaṃvedana |
| Topic Variation | svasaṃvedana |
| Tibetan | རང་རིག་ ( rangrik) |
| Wylie Tibetan Transliteration | rang rig ( rangrik) |
| Devanagari Sanskrit | स्वसंवेदन |
| Chinese | 自證分 |
| Chinese Pinyin | zìzhèngfēn |
| Japanese Transliteration | jishō |
| Korean Transliteration | chajŭng |
| Buddha-nature Site Standard English | self-awareness |
| Karl Brunnhölzl's English Term | self-aware(ness) |
| Richard Barron's English Term | self-knowing awareness [Dzogchen], self-aware(ness) [Yogachara], reflexive consciousness |
| Jeffrey Hopkin's English Term | self-cognizing consciousness, self-knowing |
| Sarah Harding's English Term | reflexive awareness |
| Dan Martin's English Term | reflexive awareness |
| Gyurme Dorje's English Term | intrinsic awareness, reflexive awareness |
| Alternate Spellings | svasaṃvitti |
| Term Information | |
| Source Language | Sanskrit |
| Basic Meaning | An important term for the Yogācāra that refers to a consciousness of consciousness itself, or how one knows that they know something. It was a hotly debated topic that was disputed by followers of the Madhyamaka. In Tibet it would later become a common Dzogchen term, though with an entirely different meaning of one's own innate awareness (rig pa), a crucial concept in the Dzogchen teachings. |
| Has the Sense of | Mind seeing mind. The classic example is that of a lamp that illuminates the surrounding area as well as itself. |
| Term Type | Noun |
| Definitions | |
| Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism | See page 882: In Sanskrit, lit.“self-knowledge” or “self-awareness,” also seen written as svasaṃveda, svasaṃvit, svasaṃvitti. In Buddhist epistemology, svasaṃvedana is that part of consciousness which, during a conscious act of seeing, hearing, thinking, and so on, apprehends not the external sensory object but the knowing consciousness itself. |
| Rangjung Yeshe Dictionary | self-cognizant awareness. self-aware[ness] [thd]. Self-cognizance. self-cognition, apperception [ggd]. one's own insight; 1) self awareness; aware of oneself; 2) self consciousness (according to Chittamatra), [svasamvedana]; self-cognizing (intrinsic) awareness; [lit.] your mind, inherent cognizance. [one's] self-cognizance. 1) self-known, self-aware, natural awareness, intrinsic awareness, apperception. 2) abr. of {rang byung rig pa} self-existing insight. 3) self knower, proprioceptive, self-consciousness [apperceptive], self-knower, one's mind, one's own insight, insight, my own mind. 4) the absolute truth in Y. comp. {rang gi rig pa}; self-existing awareness |
