三陀罗尼

(三陀羅尼, 三陀罗尼)

The three (sa) dhāraṇī, which word from dhāra, " maintaining,"　"preserving,"　is defined as the power maintaining wisdom or knowledge. Dhāraṇī are　"spells chiefly for personal use" (Eliot), as compared with mantra, which are associated with religious services. The Tiantai School interprets the "three (sa) dhāraṇī" of the <Lotus Sutra> on the lines of the[lang id =1028]三諦, i.e. [lang id =1028]空, [lang id =1028]假and[lang id =1028]中. Another group is[lang id =1028]聞持陀羅尼 the power to retain all the teaching one hears; [lang id =1028]分別陀羅尼 unerring powers of discrimination; [lang id =1028]入音聲陀羅尼 power to rise superior to external praise or blame.