also: しんてい
Only with reading しんたい
Buddhist term for the highest, absolute truth, often contrasted with 俗諦 (conventional truth).
See also: 俗諦
Only with reading しんてい
General, non-Buddhist use for the fundamental nature or core of something; often read しんてい.
In Buddhism, two truths are taught: ultimate truth and conventional truth.
It is difficult to grasp the true meaning of this word.
Standard kanji spelling; reading しんたい is especially common for the Buddhist sense.
Alternate reading used especially for the non-Buddhist 'essence' sense.
From Middle Chinese 真諦 (MC tsyin tejH), a Buddhist term translating Sanskrit paramārtha-satya 'ultimate truth'. The reading しんたい reflects the go-on pronunciation, while しんてい is a later kan-on variant.