the character 歩
- Johnny Dangerous
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the character 歩
歩
Hi all, this is a character being brought up in the context of a detailed discussion of (historically Okinawan) martial arts and their possible connection to Buddhism I am having. I am told that this character means "steps" or "stages" roughly, is this so, and would this character also find it's way into Buddhist terminology?
Hi all, this is a character being brought up in the context of a detailed discussion of (historically Okinawan) martial arts and their possible connection to Buddhism I am having. I am told that this character means "steps" or "stages" roughly, is this so, and would this character also find it's way into Buddhist terminology?
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Re: the character 歩
It's used for "steps" pretty frequently...I mean like actual physical footsteps, among other things. So if you are involved in physical martial arts there may be a connection there.Johnny Dangerous wrote: ↑Mon Jun 28, 2021 4:14 am 歩
Hi all, this is a character being brought up in the context of a detailed discussion of (historically Okinawan) martial arts and their possible connection to Buddhism I am having. I am told that this character means "steps" or "stages" roughly, is this so, and would this character also find it's way into Buddhist terminology?
As you noted it also means "level" and "small degree" or "small amount."
一歩一歩 means "step by step" as in measured progress, colloquially, and I've seen it shortened to 歩歩 in Buddhist contexts.
"One should cultivate contemplation in one’s foibles. The foibles are like fish, and contemplation is like fishing hooks. If there are no fish, then the fishing hooks have no use. The bigger the fish is, the better the result we will get. As long as the fishing hooks keep at it, all foibles will eventually be contained and controlled at will." -Zhiyi
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Re: the character 歩
So it is a general term? How would you precisely translate that in a Buddhist context? Step-step?FiveSkandhas wrote: ↑Mon Jun 28, 2021 4:31 amIt's used for "steps" pretty frequently...I mean like actual physical footsteps, among other things. So if you are involved in physical martial arts there may be a connection there.Johnny Dangerous wrote: ↑Mon Jun 28, 2021 4:14 am 歩
Hi all, this is a character being brought up in the context of a detailed discussion of (historically Okinawan) martial arts and their possible connection to Buddhism I am having. I am told that this character means "steps" or "stages" roughly, is this so, and would this character also find it's way into Buddhist terminology?
As you noted it also means "level" and "small degree" or "small amount."
一歩一歩 means "step by step" as in measured progress, colloquially, and I've seen it shortened to 歩歩 in Buddhist contexts.
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when afflicted by disease
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Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared
-Khunu Lama
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad
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Re: the character 歩
歩歩 is a little unclear to me but it seems to mean the same thing as "step by step", just written without the "一"Johnny Dangerous wrote: ↑Mon Jun 28, 2021 4:50 amSo it is a general term? How would you precisely translate that in a Buddhist context? Step-step?FiveSkandhas wrote: ↑Mon Jun 28, 2021 4:31 amIt's used for "steps" pretty frequently...I mean like actual physical footsteps, among other things. So if you are involved in physical martial arts there may be a connection there.Johnny Dangerous wrote: ↑Mon Jun 28, 2021 4:14 am 歩
Hi all, this is a character being brought up in the context of a detailed discussion of (historically Okinawan) martial arts and their possible connection to Buddhism I am having. I am told that this character means "steps" or "stages" roughly, is this so, and would this character also find it's way into Buddhist terminology?
As you noted it also means "level" and "small degree" or "small amount."
一歩一歩 means "step by step" as in measured progress, colloquially, and I've seen it shortened to 歩歩 in Buddhist contexts.
"One should cultivate contemplation in one’s foibles. The foibles are like fish, and contemplation is like fishing hooks. If there are no fish, then the fishing hooks have no use. The bigger the fish is, the better the result we will get. As long as the fishing hooks keep at it, all foibles will eventually be contained and controlled at will." -Zhiyi
"Just be kind." -Atisha
"Just be kind." -Atisha
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Re: the character 歩
Yes:, from the Digital Dictionary of Buddhism:Johnny Dangerous wrote: ↑Mon Jun 28, 2021 4:14 am 歩
Hi all, this is a character being brought up in the context of a detailed discussion of (historically Okinawan) martial arts and their possible connection to Buddhism I am having. I am told that this character means "steps" or "stages" roughly, is this so, and would this character also find it's way into Buddhist terminology?
步
Basic Meaning: step
Senses: A pace (Skt. pada; patti; Tib. dpung bu chung, gom pa). 〔瑜伽論 T 1579.30.283b24〕 [Charles Muller; source(s): Nakamura, Soothill]
步步
Basic Meaning: step by step
Senses: Gradually. Alternative rendering of 歩歩 (Skt. kramakrameṇa). 〔正法華經 T 263.9.82a25〕 [Charles Muller]
---
The DDB also lists a bunch of other occurrences; the 7 steps baby Buddha took; to walk, go for a stroll, various types of infantry, etc.
Also this, perhaps not unrelated to certain physical disciplines:
一息半步
Basic Meaning: one breath at half a step
Senses: To take half a step with each breath. The manner of walking meditation. [Charles Muller; source(s): Yokoi]
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Re: the character 歩
Do you two mind if I reproduce what you have written here in my martial-arts related conversation?
The specific issue is that the person I am talking to says that he believes the character might exclusively refer to physical steps. I suspected this was not so, and that was my reason for asking. It appears that I am correct then, and that the character is fairly broadly applicable to steps or stages, as well as physical steps, including such notions found in Buddhism. Is that correct?
The specific issue is that the person I am talking to says that he believes the character might exclusively refer to physical steps. I suspected this was not so, and that was my reason for asking. It appears that I am correct then, and that the character is fairly broadly applicable to steps or stages, as well as physical steps, including such notions found in Buddhism. Is that correct?
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Re: the character 歩
I don't think it would refers to stages... In the DDB, all of the definitions are literally about walking. The most conceptual it gets there is "wandering" 遊步, as in wandering off in the forest without a particular destination.Johnny Dangerous wrote: ↑Tue Jun 29, 2021 8:42 pm Do you two mind if I reproduce what you have written here in my martial-arts related conversation?
The specific issue is that the person I am talking to says that he believes the character might exclusively refer to physical steps. I suspected this was not so, and that was my reason for asking. It appears that I am correct then, and that the character is fairly broadly applicable to steps or stages, as well as physical steps, including such notions found in Buddhism. Is that correct?
Stages might be 地 or 階段.
I've also heard 一步一步得走 in a chan context, meaning to go slowly but surely, putting one foot in front of the other. Often translated as "to go step by step."
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Re: the character 歩
My question is whether or not it refers exclusively to physical steps, or if the steps might be referring non-physical sequential steps, etc.SilenceMonkey wrote: ↑Tue Jun 29, 2021 9:17 pmI don't think it would refers to stages... In the DDB, all of the definitions are literally about walking. The most conceptual it gets there is "wandering" 遊步, as in wandering off in the forest without a particular destination.Johnny Dangerous wrote: ↑Tue Jun 29, 2021 8:42 pm Do you two mind if I reproduce what you have written here in my martial-arts related conversation?
The specific issue is that the person I am talking to says that he believes the character might exclusively refer to physical steps. I suspected this was not so, and that was my reason for asking. It appears that I am correct then, and that the character is fairly broadly applicable to steps or stages, as well as physical steps, including such notions found in Buddhism. Is that correct?
I've also heard 一步一步得走 in a chan context, meaning to go slowly but surely, putting one foot in front of the other. Often translated as "to go step by step."
I.e if something is translated as "36 steps" or similar, does it need to exclusively mean 36 physical steps, or might it have another meaning?
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when afflicted by disease
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared
-Khunu Lama
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared
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Re: the character 歩
Take a look yourself?Johnny Dangerous wrote: ↑Tue Jun 29, 2021 9:19 pmMy question is whether or not it refers exclusively to physical steps, or if the steps might be referring non-physical sequential steps, etc.SilenceMonkey wrote: ↑Tue Jun 29, 2021 9:17 pmI don't think it would refers to stages... In the DDB, all of the definitions are literally about walking. The most conceptual it gets there is "wandering" 遊步, as in wandering off in the forest without a particular destination.Johnny Dangerous wrote: ↑Tue Jun 29, 2021 8:42 pm Do you two mind if I reproduce what you have written here in my martial-arts related conversation?
The specific issue is that the person I am talking to says that he believes the character might exclusively refer to physical steps. I suspected this was not so, and that was my reason for asking. It appears that I am correct then, and that the character is fairly broadly applicable to steps or stages, as well as physical steps, including such notions found in Buddhism. Is that correct?
I've also heard 一步一步得走 in a chan context, meaning to go slowly but surely, putting one foot in front of the other. Often translated as "to go step by step."
I.e if something is translated as "36 steps" or similar, does it need to exclusively mean 36 physical steps, or might it have another meaning?
http://www.buddhism-dict.net/cgi-bin/dd ... =%E6%AD%A5
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Re: the character 歩
Not particularly illuminating, and would require me to have more language skills than I do to glean anything.
I am going to assume it in fact can refer to non-physical steps in a manner similar to the English word, since a repetition of the character is said to mean something like "gradually".
I am going to assume it in fact can refer to non-physical steps in a manner similar to the English word, since a repetition of the character is said to mean something like "gradually".
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when afflicted by disease
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared
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Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared
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Re: the character 歩
By all means, please do. I was just referring to the handy online Buddhist dictionary anyways.Johnny Dangerous wrote: ↑Tue Jun 29, 2021 8:42 pm Do you two mind if I reproduce what you have written here in my martial-arts related conversation?
The specific issue is that the person I am talking to says that he believes the character might exclusively refer to physical steps. I suspected this was not so, and that was my reason for asking. It appears that I am correct then, and that the character is fairly broadly applicable to steps or stages, as well as physical steps, including such notions found in Buddhism. Is that correct?
But your mate need not take the word of some random stranger on the internet for it, he can check a decent dictionary such as this one:
https://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/Lindict/
(scroll down a bit after searching for 步)
You're right, and your friend seems to be taking too narrow a view, since the examples show that it not only means a physical step as a noun or verb, but also functions in a slightly more abstract sense as steps in a procedure.
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Re: the character 歩
If this character is not Buddhist i''m going to be pissed! I have it tattooed on my neck.