Greetings all,
Is 'wat' Pali for 'temple', and 'vihara' Pali for monastery? I hear these terms and then those are the translations, but I don't know which language they are. If they're not Pali, are they common place throughout the Theravada world?
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Are These Pali Words...?
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Re: Are These Pali Words...?
by retrofuturist » Fri Jan 29, 2010 4:01 am
Greetings,
I believe Vihara is Pali for residency or abode, and that Wat is a Thai word.
Both words and their intended meanings are well known as far as I can tell.
Metta,
Retro.
I believe Vihara is Pali for residency or abode, and that Wat is a Thai word.
Both words and their intended meanings are well known as far as I can tell.
Metta,
Retro.
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Whatever various forms of unease there are in the world, They originate founded in encumbering accumulation. (Pārāyanavagga)
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Dharma Wheel (Mahayana / Vajrayana forum)
Whatever various forms of unease there are in the world, They originate founded in encumbering accumulation. (Pārāyanavagga)
'We should not congratulate someone on the success of their misdeeds, but on the contrary should endeavour to advise him or her to lead a more skilful and wholesome life. If such advice is ignored then we can only give up and let go' - Phra Panyapatipo
Dharma Wheel (Mahayana / Vajrayana forum)
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Re: Are These Pali Words...?
by Paññāsikhara » Fri Jan 29, 2010 4:05 am
"wat" is Thai I think, though "vihara" is a term in many Indic dialects, including what we now call "Pali".
It come from the verb "to dwell" or "to abide", viharati.
Originally, a vihara was a dwelling, including the physical sense, eg. a hut or the like, but also the more abstract types of meditative dwelling, eg. sunnata vihara, "dwelling in emptiness".
Later, it becomes more and more used as the physical dwelling, particularly for any sort of renunciants (not just meditators), and hence "monastery" in English.
It come from the verb "to dwell" or "to abide", viharati.
Originally, a vihara was a dwelling, including the physical sense, eg. a hut or the like, but also the more abstract types of meditative dwelling, eg. sunnata vihara, "dwelling in emptiness".
Later, it becomes more and more used as the physical dwelling, particularly for any sort of renunciants (not just meditators), and hence "monastery" in English.
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Re: Are These Pali Words...?
by theravada_guy » Fri Jan 29, 2010 4:06 am
Okay, thanks Retro.
Edit-Also thank you Venerable. I think you posted your reply as I was posting the thanks to Retro, hence I didn't see it. Didn't mean to snub you.
Edit-Also thank you Venerable. I think you posted your reply as I was posting the thanks to Retro, hence I didn't see it. Didn't mean to snub you.
With metta,
Justin
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Re: Are These Pali Words...?
by jcsuperstar » Fri Jan 29, 2010 5:46 am
Wat is Thai for temple, monastery etc. it also means measure but i dont think there is a connection
สัพเพ สัตตา สุขีตา โหนตุ
the mountain may be heavy in and of itself, but if you're not trying to carry it it's not heavy to you- Ajaan Suwat
the mountain may be heavy in and of itself, but if you're not trying to carry it it's not heavy to you- Ajaan Suwat
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Re: Are These Pali Words...?
by David N. Snyder » Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:56 pm
Vihāra: 'abode' There are 3 abodes: the divine abode dibba-vihāra the divine abode Brahma Viharas, the noble abode ariya-vihāra See A. III, 63; D. 33.
source: Maha Thera Nyanatiloka. Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines, Buddhist Publication Society, first edition 1952.
It can also refer to a monastery or temple, the abode for bhikkhus and bhikkhunis.
source: Maha Thera Nyanatiloka. Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines, Buddhist Publication Society, first edition 1952.
It can also refer to a monastery or temple, the abode for bhikkhus and bhikkhunis.
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Re: Are These Pali Words...?
by theravada_guy » Fri Jan 29, 2010 9:57 pm
Thanks to everyone who helped me. I think it's clear enough for me now. 
With metta,
Justin
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Re: Are These Pali Words...?
by JackV » Fri Apr 09, 2010 9:33 am
I'm not sure if Wat is specifically only Thai as I know the Cambodians also use the term Wat (see Ankor Wat) and obviously Khymer is not Thai
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Re: Are These Pali Words...?
by David N. Snyder » Fri Apr 09, 2010 2:14 pm
JackV wrote:I'm not sure if Wat is specifically only Thai as I know the Cambodians also use the term Wat (see Ankor Wat) and obviously Khymer is not Thai
From wikipedia:
A wat (derived from the Sanskrit word वात Vattaka) is a monastery temple in Cambodia, Thailand, or Laos. The word "wat" (Khmer: វត្ត, Thai: วัด, sometimes rendered "vat" when referring to Laos) means "school."
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