Dictionary Definition:
[translation-eng] {Hopkins} a phenomenon that is merely impued by terms or thought and is not established by way of its own character
[comments] Comment: This is the definition of spyi mtshan (generally characterized phenomenon). There are multiple uses of such terms. For instance, consciousness (shes pa) is a specifically characterized phenonenon (rang mtshan); that which is luminous and knowing (gsal zhing rig pa) is its specific character (rang gi mtshan nyid); impermance (mi rtag) is a general character (spyi'i mtshan nyid) of consciousness shared with other products. An instance of a generally characterized phenomenon (spyi mtshan) is uncompounded space. Ge-luk-b#a scholars also identify ""own-character"" as referring either to objects' establishment by way of their own character (rang gi mtshan nyid kyis grub pa) or to establishment by way of their own character as the referents of conceptual consciousnesses (rang 'dzin rtog pa'i zhen gzhir rang gi mtshan nyid kyis grub pa) or both.
