Ten Directions

Orthonormal basis functions of the Buddhist manifold

In Buddhist text and practices, the “ten directions” come up pretty often, and can be confusing. Which ten?

They are defined thus:

In the ten directions — the four quarters, four between, and those above and below — there is nothing in the world not seen, heard, sensed or understood by you.

So that’s easy. Up, down, left, right, forward, backward, and all the intermediate directions makes ten. Right?

But I like to think instead they refer to the first few spherical harmonics. Look!

From these functions, all shapes can emerge.

All buddhas, ten directions, three times.
All honored ones, bodhisattva-mahasattvas,
Wisdom beyond wisdom,
Maha Prajña Paramita