Category Archives: Vasubandhu and the Absolute

The Mélange of the Absolute

Posted on April 17, 2017 by Vajragoni

Vasubandhu characterizes this last segment with the following delineations: If there were no defiling phenomenal impediments, all corporeal beings would already be liberated. If there were no Pure Transcendent Absolute, any effort for liberation would be frivolous activity. Stcherbatsky: If … Continue reading →

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Sweet Sixteen

Posted on April 14, 2017 by Vajragoni

There is another subdivision of the Absolute, which is sixteenfold; Stcherbatsky refers to these as sixteen modes of Relative Reality, or those which the Absolute is subjacent to: 1) the Relativity of the internal Elements of life; 2) the Relativity … Continue reading →

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Synonyms of the Absolute

Posted on April 11, 2017 by Vajragoni

Friedmann’s translation: A synonym makes clear that there are different names for the same-thing. Because it defines the meaning of [the word of which it is] a synonym, it is called synonym… Summarily the synonyms of the Absolute are: Tathatā: … Continue reading →

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The Essence of the Absolute

Posted on April 8, 2017 by Vajragoni

What is meant by the Essence of the Absolute? Stcherbatsky’s translation: The unreality of both (The object and the subject), And the reality (subjacent) of this unreality, (This is the essence of the Absolute), T’is neither (exclusively) assertion, Nor is … Continue reading →

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The Science of the Absolute

Posted on April 6, 2017 by Vajragoni

We shall soon come to realize in this series that the Madhyāntavibhāga and its commentaries are a unique Science that directly dissects the inner and outer nature of the Absolute. Lankavatarians have a particular interest in this as the Absolute, … Continue reading →

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Son of the Sugata

Posted on April 4, 2017 by Vajragoni

Before instructing upon the chapter of The Absolute, we will first share portions of the introduction to the Madhyāntavibhāgabhāṣya (Vasubandhu’s commentary) and the Madhyāntavibhāgaṭīkā (Sthiramati’s sub-commentary). Please note that the word “Saint” in both translations (Stcherbatsky and Friedmann) will be … Continue reading →

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Madhyāntavibhāgabhāṣya+ṭīkā

Posted on April 1, 2017 by Vajragoni

When one considers Asanga and Vasubandhu and their connection with the Yogācāra, it needs to be stated that they stressed their basic position as Vijñaptimātratā, wherein the emphasis was placed on a form of an epistemic-proposition that elaborates on perceptual-errors … Continue reading →

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The-Thing-In-Itself

Posted on March 27, 2017 by Vajragoni

Before we enter into the Kantian connection with the Madhyāntavibhāga, it needs to be shared what Stcherbatsky’s notion of “Yoga” entailed, for it is a most profound one: Yoga: the mystic power produced by intense concentrated contemplation of a single … Continue reading →

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Vasubandhu and the Absolute

Posted on March 24, 2017 by Vajragoni

Vasubandhu (born 316 AD) and his half-brother, Asanga, were the early formulators of the Yogācāra, a profound and intricate school of Mahāyāna philosophy. The most concise definition of Yogācāra is the practice (ācāra) of spiritual discipline (yoga). Vasubandhu’s range of … Continue reading →

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