A study on Yogacara's view of the relationship between Selflessness and relief of sentient beings

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24520050
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Indian philosophy/Buddhist studies
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo (2013-2016); University of Tsukuba (2012)
• Principal Investigator: TAKAHASHI Koichi 東京大学, 大学院人文社会系研究科(文学部), 特任研究員 (70345239)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 瑜伽師地論 / 無我 / 菩薩道 / 衆生利益

Outline of Final Research Achievements

As is well known, the Selflessness of all existence is the most important philosophical standpoint in the Mahayana Buddhism. It is, however, demanded that bodhisattvas, practitioners of Mahayana Buddhism, should behave for other people according to their practical ethics. Is there any contradiction between the Selflessness and the ethical activities, because the Selflessness can be regarded as negation of individual soul? Investigation of Yogacara works shows following results with regard to these issues.
The Yogacara, one of the Mahayana schools, claims the mind only theory which denies the external world through the meditation. However, attaining this state is not their ultimate goal. They teach that a yoga meditator can save ordinary people from sufferings only after realizing the mind only. It should be considered that the mind only theory cleverly integrates the framework of the world experienced by us and the practical ethics of bodhisattvas who recognize this framework.

Free Research Field

インド哲学仏教学