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This book is a comparative study of the phenomenology of Yogacara Vasubandhu and that of the German philosopher Edmund Husserl having the focus on the understanding of the deeply inner nature of consciousness or mind. It articulates that the Yogacara philosophy is much richer and comprehensive than the Western phenomenology, particularly the Husserlian phenomenology. Later Vasubandhu’s philosophical orientation was idealist in Indian sense or a phenomenologist in Husserlian sense. His Mahayana Yogacara idealism is based on Asanga’s seminal text Sandhinirmocanasutra and his own Vijnaptimatratasiddhi (Vimsatika and Trimsika together) along with his exploration of the intrinsic theory of consciousness or mind. For one to have a clear-cut understanding of Vasubandhu, the book follows the Husserlian phenomenological approach as a philosophical methodology and also used select terminology wherever required. This book is expected to be highly useful for students, researchers and teachers in the area of Indian/Buddhist philosophy. This book is a comparative study of the phenomenology of Yogacara Vasubandhu and that of the German philosopher Edmund Husserl having the focus on the understanding of the deeply inner nature of consciousness or mind. It asserts that the Yogacara philosophy is much richer and comprehensive than the Western phenomenology, particularly the Husserlian phenomenology.

Contents: Preface Abbreviations 1.Introduction: A Historical Transition of Vasubandhu’s Philosophy Buddhism: An Overview An Introduction to Vasubandhu Vasubandhu’s Formative Years Controversy Pertaining to Vasubandhu’s Teachers Nature and Classification of Dharmas List of Conditioned Elements of Existence (Samskrta Dharmas) List of Unconditioned Elements of Existence (Asamskrta Dharmas) Reason for Vasubandhu’s Shift from Hinayana to Mahayana The Early Buddhist Literature (Sutra/Sutta) Causality: The Fundamental Doctrine of Buddhism Meaning of the Term Vinnana (Vijnana) Kinds of Vinnana Vinnana as Underlying Sentience or Consciousness Vinnana as Cognitive Consciousness Causal Interrelatedness between the Twin Aspects of Vinnana Dharma (Dhamma): Its Varied Meanings in Buddhism Meaning of the Term Abhidharma (Abhidhamma) The Mission Plan of Abhidharma Abhidharma Literature (Scholastic Treatises) Theravada Abhidhamma Sarvastivada Abhidharma Abhidharmakoaa: Its Meaning and Contents Sarvastivada–Vaibhasika School: All-Exists-Theorists Literature of Sarvastivada School The Doctrines Floated by the Sarvastivadins The Theory of Possession or Ownership (Prapti) The Doctrine of Momentariness in Sarvastivada School Four Kinds of Sarvastivadins Dharmatrata Ghosaka Vasumitra Buddhadeva Sautrantika (Darstantika) School Doctrines Propounded by the Sautrantikas The Doctrine of Momentariness The Theory of Seed (Bīja) A Glance at the Three Different Philosophical Perspectives of Vasubandhu Vasubandhu: A Sarvastivada–Vaibhasika and Sautrantika Vasubandhu: A Yogacara–Vijnanavadin 2. A Philosophical Debate between Yogacara Vasubandhu and the Buddhist Realists Preamble Objection 1: Spatial Regularity (Desa-niyama) Reply Objection 2: Temporal Regularity (Kala-niyama) Reply Objection 3: Public Shareability and Causal Continuity (Santana-niyama) Reply Objection 4: Functional Causal Action (Krtya-kriya-niyama) Reply An Evaluation of Vasubandhu’s Arguments Vaibhasika’s Realist Response Yogacara Vasubandhu’s Response Vaibhasika’s Realist Response Yogacara Vasubandhu’s Response Vaibhasika’s Realist Response Yogacara Vasubandhu’s Response Vaibhasika’s Realist Response Yogacara Vasubandhu’s Response Sautrantika Position Yogacara Vasubandhu’s Objection Sautrantika Reply Yogacara Vasubandhu’s Response Sautrantika Reply Yogacara Vasubandhu’s Response Upapadukasattvadesana Abhipraya Prayojana Badhaka-pramana Agama Badha Yukti Badha Discourse on the Twelve Sense Spheres (Ayatana) Abhipraya Sautrantika Questions Vasubandhu Explains Ayatana Desana Vijnaptimatrata Desana 3. Nature and Modes of Consciousness in the Trimsika Introduction Significant Key Questions Meaning and Classification of Consciousness (Vijnana) Traditional Buddhist Classification: Early Abhidharma Classification of Consciousness by Yogacarin Asanga and Vasubandhu Three-layered Structure of Consciousness Storehouse Consciousness (Alaya-vijnana): The First Transformation Etymological Roots of Alaya Various Translations of Alaya-vijnana Three Interpretations of Alaya-vijnana Four Aspects of Alaya Nature of the Five Omnipresent Factors Svarupa/Svabhāva of Alaya-vijnana Contribution of Alaya-vijnana Principle to Vijnanavada Alaya-vijnana: Its Active and Passive Modes Cessation (Nivr̥tti) of Alaya-vijnana Alaya-Vijnana vs Absolute Flow of Consciousness Thinking Consciousness (Mano–nama-vijnana): The Second Transformation Four Aspects of Ego Consciousness Cessation (Nivrtti) of Klista-manovijnana Active Consciousness (Pravr̥tti–vijnana): The Third Transformation Mind and Mental Concommitants (Citta and Caitta or Caitasika) Metaphors of “River” and “Ocean” Reciprocal Relationship between Alaya–vijnana and Pravrtti–vijnana The Internal Consciousness (Manovijnana) Refutation of Eternalism (Sasvatanta) Criticism of Externalist Realist Refutation of Annihilationism (Ucchedanta, Apavadanta) 4. Vasubandhu’s Theory of Trisvabhava Introduction The Three Natures of Consciousness (Trisvabhāva) The Imagined Nature (Parikalpita Svabhava) The Dependent Nature (Paratantra Svabhava) The Consummate Nature (Pariniṣpanna Svabhava) Interrelatedness between the Three Natures of Consciousness Theory of Trilaksana in the Sandhinirmocanasutra Simile of the Classical Indian Roadside Magic Show Vasubandhu Explains Nihsvabhavata Vasubandhu’s Tri-nihsvabhava Theory The Path of Purification or Perfection (Ksanti) Laksana Nihsvabhavata Utpatti Nihsvabhavata Paramartha Nihsvabhavata 5.Variety of Idealism: Western and Indian What Is idealism? Mind-boggling Views of Idealism Plato’s Idealism Descartes’ Problematic Idealism Metaphysical Theory Privileged Epistemic Position of Mind Wax Analogy: Melting of the External Object Representation Theory of Sense Perception External Things: “A Great Propensity to Believe” Argument Berkeley’s Idealism What Is the Treatise All About? Argument against Materialism The Master Argument Rejection of the Theory of Abstraction Kant’s Transcendental Idealism Kant’s Refutation of Idealism Husserl’s Direct Realism-cum-Transcendental Idealism Realist-Idealist Controversy about Husserl Transcendental Idealism of Vedanta Synthesis of Realism and Idealism in the Brhadaranyaka Upanisad Sankara’s Strong Sense of Philosophical Idealism 6. Phenomenology of Consciousness: A Comparative Study of Yogacara Vasubandhu and Husserl Is Yogacara Vasubandhu a Phenomenologist? What Does Phenomenology Mean? Human Life as an Embodied Consciousness Vasubandhu’s Thought-continuity and Methodology Denial of the Duality within Experience Two-tiered Hermeneutic Strategy Vijnapti Matra and Nirvanic Freedom The Problem of Temporal Synthesis and Continuity Vasubandhu Phenomenological Modes of Consciousness Husserl on Temporal Synthesis and Continuity 7. Conclusion: A Critical Estimate Bibliography Index