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dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgo

dhammavicayasambojjhaṅga

masc nom sg of dhammavicayasambojjhaṅga (noun)

1. investigation of reality as an element of awakening; analysing the teaching as a factor of enlightenment

Built from

• dhamma — root · teaching, reality
  Derived from √dhṛ (hold, bear); Sanskrit dharma. The Buddhist canon uses it for both the teachings of the Buddha and the ultimate nature of phenomena.
• vi — prefix · apart, asunder
  Prefix indicating separation, clarity, or analysis. Creates the sense of investigating by sorting into distinct parts.
• cay — root · investigate, heap
  Root meaning to collect or investigate; here rendered as 'looking apart into components'.
• a — ending · agent noun
  Nominalizing suffix forming the agent noun vicaya (investigation, analyst) from the root.
• sam — prefix · together, completely
  Prefix bringing things into unity; here suggests bringing together all aspects of awakening.
• bodhi — root · awakening, understanding
  Root √budh (awaken, open up), cognate with English 'bud'. The awakening or enlightenment that overcomes ignorance.
• aṅga — stem · limb, factor, member
  Noun meaning a body part or constituent element; here 'factor' of the path. Related to Latin angulus (angle), both from a shared sense of joining or limb.

Analysis. Compound: dhamma (the teaching, law, reality) + vicaya (investigation, analysis) + sambojjhaṅga (awakening factor). Vicaya- is the agent noun from vi- (apart) + √cay (investigate), literally 'looking apart'. Sambojjhaṅga is saṁ (together) + bodhi (awakening) + aṅga (limb, factor): the seven limbs or factors of awakening that collectively form the path to liberation. This factor represents the Buddha's active discernment of dhamma as distinct from mere passive knowing.

Etymology. Dhamma derives from √dhṛ (hold, bear) via Sanskrit dharma, the cosmic order and one's duty; it comes to mean 'law' and 'teaching' and in Buddhist usage 'ultimate reality' (the Pali Tipitaka consistently renders it as 'reality' or 'the teaching'). Vicaya: vi- (apart, asunder, clarity) + √cay (to heap, collect, investigate)—literally 'investigating by sorting apart'. Sambojjhaṅga: saṁ (together, completely) + √budh (awaken, understand, cognate with English 'bud' in sense of opening) + aṅga (limb, member, cognate with English 'angle' via Latin angulus). The seven sambojjhaṅgā are the Buddha's final seven nights of investigation before Bodhi.

Meanings from the Digital Pāḷi Dictionary; morphology and etymology by Claude.

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