Thirty Verses on Consciousness-only
Encyclopedia
The Thirty Verses on Consciousness-only (Sanskrit
: ; ) is a brief poetic treatise by the India
n Buddhist scholar Vasubandhu
. It was composed in the 4th century CE and is one of the core texts of the Yogacara
school. It was translated into Chinese by Xuanzang
in 648 at Hongfu Monastery.
Because of this, all varieties of phenomenal appearances and qualities arise.
The phenonena of Atman and dharmas are [ all mental representations ] based on the manifestation and transformation of consciousness.
Consciousnesses capable of unfolding or manifesting themselves may be grouped in three general categories:
(2) the consciousness that cogitates or deliberates ( i.e., the seventh or thought-centre consciousness or Manas );
And (3) the consciousness that perceives and discriminates between spheres of objects (i.e., the sixth or sense-centre consciousness or Manovijnana and the five sense consciousnesses ).
The first is the Alayavijnana ( i.e., storehouse or repository consciousness).
It is also called Vipakavijnana ( retributive consciousness ) and Sarvabijakavijnan ( the consciousness that carries within it all Bijas or seeds ).
[ It brings to fruition all seeds ( effects of good and evil deeds ). ]
(1) what it 'holds and receives' (upadi).
(2) Its 'place' and 'locality' (sthana), and
(3) its power of perception and discrmination (vijnapti).
It is at all times associated with five mental attributes (caitta), namely, mental contact (Sparsa).
Attentation (Manaskara), sensation (Vedana), conception (Samjna) and
volition (Cetana).
But it is always associated only with the 'sensation of indifference'
(Upeksa).
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
: ; ) is a brief poetic treatise by the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Buddhist scholar Vasubandhu
Vasubandhu
Vasubandhu was an Indian Buddhist monk, and along with his half-brother Asanga, one of the main founders of the Indian Yogācāra school. However, some scholars consider Vasubandhu to be two distinct people. Vasubandhu is one of the most influential figures in the entire history of Buddhism...
. It was composed in the 4th century CE and is one of the core texts of the Yogacara
Yogacara
Yogācāra is an influential school of Buddhist philosophy and psychology emphasizing phenomenology and ontology through the interior lens of meditative and yogic practices. It developed within Indian Mahāyāna Buddhism in about the 4th century CE...
school. It was translated into Chinese by Xuanzang
Xuanzang
Xuanzang was a famous Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator who described the interaction between China and India in the early Tang period...
in 648 at Hongfu Monastery.
1
Concepts of Atman and dharmas do not imply the existence of a real Atman and real dharmas, but are merely fictitious constructions [ produced by numerous causes ].Because of this, all varieties of phenomenal appearances and qualities arise.
The phenonena of Atman and dharmas are [ all mental representations ] based on the manifestation and transformation of consciousness.
Consciousnesses capable of unfolding or manifesting themselves may be grouped in three general categories:
2
(1) The consciousness whose fruits ( retribution ) mature at varying times ( i.e., the eighth or 'Storehouse' consciousness or Alayavijnana );(2) the consciousness that cogitates or deliberates ( i.e., the seventh or thought-centre consciousness or Manas );
And (3) the consciousness that perceives and discriminates between spheres of objects (i.e., the sixth or sense-centre consciousness or Manovijnana and the five sense consciousnesses ).
The first is the Alayavijnana ( i.e., storehouse or repository consciousness).
It is also called Vipakavijnana ( retributive consciousness ) and Sarvabijakavijnan ( the consciousness that carries within it all Bijas or seeds ).
[ It brings to fruition all seeds ( effects of good and evil deeds ). ]
3
It is impossible to comprehend completely(1) what it 'holds and receives' (upadi).
(2) Its 'place' and 'locality' (sthana), and
(3) its power of perception and discrmination (vijnapti).
It is at all times associated with five mental attributes (caitta), namely, mental contact (Sparsa).
Attentation (Manaskara), sensation (Vedana), conception (Samjna) and
volition (Cetana).
But it is always associated only with the 'sensation of indifference'
(Upeksa).
External links
- Digital Dictionary of Buddhism (log in with userID "guest")