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In Hinduism and Buddhism, the Sanskrit term 'bīja' (Jp. 種子 shuji), literally seed, is used as a metaphor for the origin or cause of things and cognate with bindu.
The metaphor is considerably extended in the Consciousness-only teachings of the Yogacara school of Buddhism. According to this theory, all experiences and actions produce ''bija'' as impressions, stored in the alaya (storehouse) consciousness. The external world is produced when the seeds "perfume" this consciousness. This view of ''bija'' has been equated to memes, with the theory itself positing an extreme form of memetics (ie. reality and existence consist purely of memes).
In Esoteric Buddhism and Hinduism, the term ''bija'' is used for mystical "seed syllables" contained with mantras. These seeds do not have precise meanings, but are thought to carry connections to spiritual principles. The best-known ''bija'' syllable is Om, which first is seen in the Hindu scriptures known as the Upanishads.

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Cross cultural correlates

References

Cross cultural correlates

Lawlor (1991) posits that Guruwari of the Indigenous Australian peoples may be a cross cultural correlate and may be cognate with philosophical implications of bija. See also gankyil of the Vajrayana tradition which is cognate with bindu.

References

★ Lawlor, Robert (1991). ''Voices Of The First Day: Awakening in the Aboriginal Dreamtime''. Rochester, Vermont: Inner Traditions International, Ltd. ISBN 0-89281-355-5