Introduction to Yogcra School

History and Basic Concepts

Vasubandhu
Along with his brother Asaga , one of the main
founders of the Indian Yogcra school ()
Born in Gandhra in the fourth century, he was at first an
Abhidharmist and wrote the massive Abhidharmakoa-
bhsya ().
Most influential in the East Asian tradition was his Thirty
Verses on Consciousness-only (Weishi sanshisong
).
Xuanzang (c. 602-664)
Famous for his seventeen-year
overland journey to India, which
is recorded in detail in Great
Tang Records on the Western
Regions.
Studied logic, grammar, Sanskrit,
and the Yogacara school of
Buddhism during his time
at Nalanda.
Faxiang school, translation of
Sanskrit texts, most importantly
are Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra
and Cheng Weishi Lun
The doctrine of the three natures
trisvabhava

1. fully conceptualized, imaginary nature
2. other dependent, dependent nature
3. fully accomplished, absolute nature,
consummate nature
Eight consciousnesses (vijnana)
Five sensory consciousnesses
1. Seeing
2. Hearing
3. Smelling
4. Tasting
5. Touching
Eight consciousnesses (vijnana)

6. mental-consciousness (manovijnana)
7. The sense of the selfhood (manas)
8. Warehouse consciousness (alaya-vijnana),
which is also called all-seeds consciousness
(sarva-bijaka-vijnana)
Transforming the eight consciousnesses
into four cognitions (wisdom)
Warehouse consciousnessGreat Mirror Cognition
(mahadarsa-jnana)
ManasEqualization Cognition (samata-jnana)
Mental-consciouness Attentive Cognition
(pratyaveksana-jnana)
Five sensory consciousnessesAccomplishing
Activity Cognition
The Great Mirror Hakuin Ekaku


When all contaminations and obstructions have
been removed from the consciousnesses and the
uncontaminated seeds reach fruition, the four
cognitions replace the consciousnesses
Two hindrances


afflictive hindrances klesa-avarana

cognitive hindrances jneya-avarana
Refutation of the theory of a self by
Vasubandhu
Five aggregates: skandhas
form
sensation
perception
mental formations
consciousness
Four components of perception

a content or image part (nimitta-bhaga) a part ,
portion
a seeing part (darsana-bhaga) looking at, knowing,
ocular perception
a self-reflective or being aware of itself
(svasamvitti-bhaga) sva: self; samvitti: knowledge
a being aware that one is aware of oneself part
(svasamveda-bhaga) samveda: perception