Definition and difference between prana and sutra

[sarakoth]

GWM's signature technique is the Dragon Elephant Prana/Sutra Palms.

Are the two terms synonymous?

What do they actually mean in Sanskrit? (I'm assuming they are Sanskrit words)

[kyss of the sword]

prana means breathing in sanskrit. it's chinese word should be neigong/shengong or qigong.

sutra means manual or book. like kamasutra is the love manual , while the vijrasutra is the diamond manual.

[Pacifian]

Correction: The skill that Golden Wheel Monk uses in fact the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, not Prana.

As kyss of the sword has rightly put it, prana means breath -- the vital energy/force present in living beings and nature.

Prajna, however, refers to one's wisdom, usually and mainly regarding the enlightenment or realisation of these Buddhist teachings: cause and effect (affinity) and that everything one encounters in life is but a empty illusion.

[sarakoth]

So what are prajna, prana, and sutra in Chinese?

[PJ]

This is an unmistakable call upon me to declare Dragon Elephant Prajna the next ELOMA, for I have been unintentionally and unknowingly mispelling its name for many a life time!

[Dennis Chen]

Prajna means wisdom.

[Ghaleon]

prana is akin to energy or qi and is used in Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism.

I think the term Elephant-Dragon Prana doesn't make sense. It should be either Elephant-Dragon Tantra or Elephant-Dragon Yoga. Buddhist Tantra are Buddhist energy practices where as Qigong are Taoist energy practices.

So the first volume of Nine Yin is an example of a Taoist Qi-cultivation practice. The Shaolin Buddhist equivalent is Yi Jin Jing (which is a Buddhist Qigong practice in the Jin Yong universe developed by Zen Buddhist Patriarch Damo). The Tibetan Buddhist equivalent would be called a Buddhist Tantra.

Sutras are Mahayana Buddhism scriptures that teach about Buddhist metaphysics such as emptiness and no-self. Generally speaking there is no qigong in Sutras. Sutras only contain metaphysical teachings. Buddhist Qigong practices are primarily found in Buddhist Tantras (with the exception of Damo's Yi Jin Jing and Xi Hui Jing).

Hope this clears some confusion.

[kyss of the sword]

JLFW's skills should be called the elephant dragon prajna(wisdom) skill. dae'erba rod skill is either called the great cudgel skill or the vijra(diamond) staff skill.

sutra means manual like zhenjing in 9yang/yin zhenjing.

prana means breathe or breathing like neigong or qigong.

[Ghaleon]

JLFW's skills should be called the elephant dragon prajna(wisdom) skill. dae'erba rod skill is either called the great cudgel skill or the vijra(diamond) staff skill.

sutra means manual like zhenjing in 9yang/yin zhenjing.

prana means breathe or breathing like neigong or qigong.

Why prajna?? I think Tantra or Yoga is better. Tibetan Buddhist Tantra or Yogas are practices to cultivate mystic energy (prana).

[Aventinus]

Well it's called 龍象般若功 which literally translates to Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill.

Where 般若 is Prajna, as in 般若波羅密多 = Prajna Paramita, or the Perfection of Wisdom referred to in Buddhist teachings...