Mind in Buddhist Psychology

Abstract

Frontispiece Asanga and Vasubandhu, the two brothers, are seated together with Asanga's teacher, Maitreya, above. Asanga is depicted receiving knowledge by inspiration; Vasubandhu holds a sacred text, indicating his vast scholarship and knowledge of the Abhidharma. The text of Asanga, mngon-pa kun-las btus-pa (Abhidharmasamuccaya), is an abridgement of the first two chapters of his Yogacaryabhumi, which employs the Hinayana Abhidharma teachings in the Great Way of the Mahayana. Vasubandhu's great treatise, the mngon-pa mdzod (Abhi- dharmakosa) revived the Abhidharma teaching which had been lost in a fire at Vikramas'ila monastery. Both brothers started out on their individual paths, but Vasubandhu was later much influenced by his older brother, Asanga.