Existence and Enlightenment in the Lankavatara-Sutra

Book Details:

• Author: Florin Giripescu Sutton

• Publisher: Sri Satguru Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 1992

• ISBN: 9788170303114

• Pages: 384

• Cover: Hardcover

• Dimensions: 23 cm x 15 cm

• Weight: 640 gm

Book Description:

About the Book:

This book offers a systematic analysis of one of the most significant concepts in the Yogacara School of Buddhism, which marks the last creative stage of Indian Buddhism. The central focus is on the Lankavatara Sutra, compiled in the second half of the 4th century A.D. This sutra is a comprehensive synthesis of both early and late religious-philosophical ideas crucial to understanding Buddhism in India and provides insight into the early roots of Japanese Zen Buddhism.

The first part of the book outlines the three-fold nature of being as conceptualized in Buddhist metaphysics. The author uses an interpretive framework inspired by existentialist philosophy (especially Heidgger's ideas) to differentiate the transcendental Essence of Being from its temporal manifestation as Self, and its spatial or cosmic dimension. The second part explains the Buddhist approach to knowledge, emphasizing the use of dialectical reasoning to transcend dualities and contradictions inherent in conventional perceptions and thinking about reality.

The book argues that Yogacara is not a subjective idealism, presenting a new perspective in contrast to the view proposed by D.T. Suzuki. It engages with Western philosophical and psychological ideas, such as Wittgenstein's linguistic analysis, Hegel's dialectics, Freud and Jung's depth psychology, Hume's flux, and Kant's critical philosophy. The work emphasizes the soteriological aspect of Buddhist thought, focusing on spiritual practice rather than metaphysical idealism, and it illustrates the dialectical relativism shared by both the Yogacara and Madhyamika schools.

Foreword:

The book is a groundbreaking study, the first systematic work on the Lankavatara Sutra since D.T. Suzuki's influential text. Sutton's analysis stands apart by demonstrating that the Yogacara philosophy is not about subjective idealism, but about the dialectical and critical nature of reality. Sutton successfully situates Yogacara within Western philosophical thought and emphasizes its relevance to contemplative religion. He also underscores the spiritual practice of Yogacara, which is more concerned with the transformation of consciousness than with its metaphysical aspects.

The author concludes that Yogacara wisdom offers a path to tolerance and understanding in today's world, encouraging a balanced approach to transcendental and absolutist claims while maintaining the essence of contemplative spirituality.

Preface:

This work delves into the Yogacara philosophy at the end of its Indian phase before it spread to China, Korea, and Japan. The focus is on the Lankavatara Sutra, a creative synthesis of Mahayana Buddhist ideas. Despite its enormous influence on the development of Buddhism, especially in Zen schools, the Yogacara school remains one of the least explored and most controversial aspects of Buddhism.

Since the publication of D.T. Suzuki's Studies in the Lankavatara Sutra, the interpretations of Yogacara have evolved significantly. Sutton's approach challenges traditional views that have long characterized Yogacara as absolute idealism, offering instead a more nuanced reading of the text and its impact on Buddhist philosophy.

Key Insights:

• Sutton engages critically with Western philosophical figures like Wittgenstein, Hegel, Freud, and Kant, drawing parallels between Yogacara's dialectical relativism and their ideas.

• The book argues that Yogacara's famous "consciousness-only" teaching refers to its spiritual practices, not its metaphysics, which remains open to a form of theoretical realism.

• Sutton’s analysis also highlights the provisional nature of many "idealistic" proclamations in the Lankavatara Sutra, suggesting they were intended to challenge materialism rather than assert the non-existence of external objects.