The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1606 page)

(Pañj
bi, ‘seal’, some suggest ‘riddle’). The passage at the end of the Sikh
di
Granth which indicates that nothing further is to be added. The whole is likened to the offering dish of the Hindu sacrifices: it contains the three treasures of truth, wisdom, and satisfaction.

 
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(Skt., etym. uncertain; perhaps from
man
, ‘think’, ‘be silent’; or
mud
, ‘intoxicated ecstasy’; or
muka
, ‘dumb’). In Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism, one who has progressed far on the way to enlightenment. In Hinduism, a muni in the Vedic period is one who possesses magical powers (
g Veda
136. 2), a wise
ascetic
, especially one who has taken a vow of silence. In the
Upani
ads
(e.g.
Katha Upani
ad
1. 4), a muni is one who has transcended attachment to this world and life by the realization of
tman
.
In Buddhism, it is used of one who has achieved tranquillity (
santi
; cf.
ANTI
) as a result of emancipating himself from views (see
DI
HI
) and passions (
r
g
) and who therefore advocates the doctrine of tranquillity (santiv
da—
Sutta Nip
ta
5. 845). In later canonical and post-canonical Buddhist literature the word is used to mean one who practises restraint in the triple activity of thought, word, and deed. In Jainism, it has become the common word to denote the avowed
ascetic
.