shes yon khang
prajna, knowledge * [sometimes contrasted to ye shes as intellectual knowledge vs [religious] wisdom, but sometimes = shes rab pha rol phyin and contrasted w shes yon giving a similar meaning w shes rab = wisdom] [IW]
prajna, (-, absolute, sublime) wisdom, intelligence, (-, transcendent, analytical) knowledge, (-, appreciative) discrimination, discriminating awareness, appreciative understanding, SA ye shes kyi rtsal, understand (3 kinds are thos, bsam, bsgoms), (3 kinds are gnas lnga rig pa kun rdzob, gnas lugs rig pa don dam, sems can gyi don bya tshul), 1 of 10 stobs bcu, 1 of bslab pa gsum, appreciative discernment, wisdom that discriminates, sublime knowing, insight [JV]
prajna, intelligence, knowledge, discrimination, [wisdom]. insight, shag rog roommate. shes rab chung ba those who have limited knowledge. Discrimination, as one of the five object determining mental states, superior knowledge [in most contexts] - superior intelligence, or intelligence [when referring to the 51 mental factors] - wisdom [when taken as synonymous with yeshe]. Syn ye shes; superior knowledge [in most contexts]. - superior intelligence, or intelligence [when referring to the 51 mental factors]. - wisdom [when taken as synonymous with yeshe]; Wisdom, discriminating wisdom, prajna; bden don gtan la 'bebs rang dang spyi'i mtshan nyid rnam par 'byed pa'o; discriminative awareness. recognition, intelligence, to be aware of, come to understand, to know, to grasp, master, to learn, can, be able to, to realize; discriminative awareness; Discrimination, as one of the five object determining mental states. knowledge. one of the pha drug the six paramitas. discriminative awareness. insight, intelligence. shes rab chung ba those who have limited knowledge. prajna, wisdom. Syn ye shes wisdom. superior knowledge [in most contexts]. - superior intelligence, or intelligence [when referring to the 51 mental factors] - wisdom [when taken as synonymous with yeshe]. transcendent knowledge [RY]
critical acumen [in debate] [ggd] [RY]
Prajna. Knowledge or intelligence. In particular, the 'knowledge of realizing egolessness.' [RY]
the practice of wisdom [RY]
sublime knowing/ wisdom; transcendent knowledge [RB]
discriminating knowledge [RY]
insight, knowledge [thd]
gnosis (as defined as intuitive or discriminative apprehension or understanding of spiritual truths or aspects of ultimate reality) [ESZ]
Wisdom (shes rab, ye shes): 1) the ability to discern correctly, the understanding of emptiness and 2) the primordial and non-dual knowing aspect of the nature of the mind. [MR]
Discussion
Shes rab or prajna is one of the universal mental factors that are concurrent with all cognitions. It is characterized in the sutras as fully distinguishing dharma from non-dharma—or in other words, to discriminate what is from what is not. According to the Great Vehicle, when it is free of the three spheres of knower, knowing, and known, then it becomes transcendent prajna.
The prefix pra- in the Sanskrit word means first, full, prime, and so forth. The root jna means to know. Thus the meaning is the prime knowing, or full knowing. The Tibetan word combines the verb shes (to know) with the adjective rab (best or complete). Although Tibetan lamas and texts generally describe the word to mean the "supreme knowing," to literally translate it in that way would not make sense in many contexts, which is why I prefer the translation full knowing. The Sanskrit word prajna seems second best: English speakers do not really understand what it means. Although the usage of "full knowing" is unfamiliar, at least people can have a somewhat organic sense of the meaning.
The word prajna is often also translated as discrimination, particularly when it refers to the non-transcendent mental factors. However, it does not sound right to refer to Transcendent Discrimination, and so translators use other translations for it in that context. This use of two translations for one dharma is dangerous: according to the texts on logic, there must be a one-to-one relationship of characterististics to characterized phenomenon. Since both the mental factor prajna and transcendent prajna are characterised in the sutras as "fully distinguishing dharma from not-dharma," the same translation should be used for both, else the relation of characterised and characteristic would be confused.
The word is also sometimes translated as "knowledge," but this implies the object that is known, whereas the actual word refers to the subject that knows, which is why it should be translated as "knowing."
The transcendent full knowing is also sometimes called transcendent wisdom, or the perfection of wisdom. Wisdom, however, is often used as a translation for jnana, or ye shes, so it is preferable to use a translation for prajna that maintains the distinctions between prajna and jnana. DKC