The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (106 page)

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Authors: John Bowker

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(Jap., ‘bad-sameness’). A subtle error in Zen Buddhism whereby the sameness of all things when they are experienced in enlightenment (
by
d
), is confused with a belief that all things are the same—thereby overlooking their provisional distinctions.
Akum
(non-Jewish star worshipper)
:
Aku
ala
(Skt., opposite of
kusala
. Unskilful action. Actions are called ‘unskilful’ because of their undesirable effects, since they contain the seed of unhappy destiny or rebirth. These actions are rooted in greed (
lobha
), hatred (
dosa
), or delusion (
moha
), the three unfavourable roots (aku
ala-m
la). See also
KARMA
/KAMMA.
Akus
(Jap., ‘evil monk’). Common term from the Heian period in Japan for monks who had abandoned their monastic orders (and rules) and had become warriors. They constituted the
s
hei
, soldier-monks who were only overcome in the 16th cent.

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