In Buddhism, paá¹Âá¸Âita (Pali, Sanskrit; Tibetan: khepa; Wyl: mkhas pa) is a term meaning "a wise, learned, or astute person". This term has been used by Buddhists in several distinct but related ways, all referring to people who have an understanding of the Buddhist teachings.
In Theravada Buddhism, as it is used in the BÃÂla-paá¹Âá¸Âita Sutta (SN 12.19) and other suttas of the Pali Canon, pandita denotes those who possess wisdom or knowledge of the Dhamma. Paá¹Âá¸Âita Sutta ( 3.45) describes three things recommended by astute true persons (paá¹Âá¸Âita), that is giving (dÃÂna), going forth (pabbajjÃÂ), and taking care of your mother and father (mÃÂtÃÂpità «naá¹ upaá¹Âá¹ÂhÃÂnaá¹Â). Moreover, the wise person (paá¹Âá¸Âita) is also described as:
In Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, pandita was a title awarded to scholars who have mastered the five sciences (Sanskrit: pañcavidyÃÂsthÃÂna; Tib. rigné chenpo nga; Wyl. rig gnas chen po lnga) in which a learned person was traditionally supposed to be well-versed. The first (and one of the only) Tibetans afforded the title was Sakya Pandita.
The five sciences are:
The stipulation can be traced to (but may well predate) the MahÃÂyÃÂna-sà «trÃÂlamkÃÂra-kÃÂrikÃÂ, which states: "Without becoming a scholar in the five sciences, not even the supreme sage can become omniscient. For the sake of refuting and supporting others, and for the sake of knowing everything himself, he makes an effort in these <nowiki>[five sciences]</nowiki>."
In Myanmar Buddhism, the term aggamahÃÂpaá¹Âá¸Âita (Burmese: á¡áÂÂá¹áÂÂáÂÂáÂÂá‡ÂÂáÂÂá¹áÂÂáÂÂáÂÂ, pronounced [ÃÂÃÂÃÂáað mÃÂhàpàðÃÂdá¸Âtað]) is used as an honorific Burmese Buddhist title conferred by the Myanmar government to distinguished Theravada Buddhist monks.
In Indonesian Buddhism, pandita (abbreviated Pdt. as a title) refers to trained and certified householders (upasaka-upasika, those who are not Buddhist monks or nuns) who provide religious services (veyyÃÂvacca) and Dhamma talks (dhammadesanÃÂ).