Sarvastivadin

noun

Sar·​vas·​ti·​va·​din
sə(r)ˌvästəˈvädᵊn
plural -s
: a member of an early realist school of Buddhism that affirms the existence of all material, mental, or other elements of experience

Word History

Etymology

Hindi sarvāstivādin adherent of a school of Buddhism that flourished in northern India in the 5th century b.c. from sarvāstivāda doctrine that everything exists, from sarva entire + asti is + vāda doctrine

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Cite this Entry

“Sarvastivadin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Sarvastivadin. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

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