Mahayanasutralankara of Asanga: Study in Vijnanavada Buddhism

Publisher: Sri Satguru Publications
Author: Yajneshwar S. Shastri
Language: English
Edition: 1989
ISBN: 9788170301950
Pages: 156
Cover: Hardcover
Dimensions: 23 cm x 14.5 cm
Weight: 334 gm

About the Book

This scholarly monograph presents a critical and comprehensive study of Mahayanasutralankara, one of the most important yet underexplored works in Mahayana Buddhism authored by the eminent philosopher Asanga. Asanga’s contribution to the Vijnanavada (Yogachara) school is immense, yet he has often remained in the shadow of his younger brother, Vasubandhu. Dr. Yajneshwar S. Shastri brings to light the philosophical depth of Asanga’s teachings and emphasizes his unique absolutistic interpretation of reality, which bears a striking resemblance to the Upanishadic tradition.

This book covers a wide range of comparative and metaphysical topics including:

• The nature of the Absolute and Phenomena

• The Doctrine of Illusion (Maya)

• The conception of Truth, Self, and Nirvana

• Concepts like Tathata, Tathagata, and Kayas (Buddha bodies)

Through verse-by-verse analysis, the author demonstrates that Mahayanasutralankara is a foundational text that predates and philosophically supports Vasubandhu’s later works like Vimsatika and Trimsika. The study also critiques both the realistic schools of Buddhism and the emptiness doctrine (Shunyavada) of Nagarjuna, positioning Asanga’s philosophy as a unique form of Absolute Idealism.

About the Author

Dr. Yajneshwar S. Shastri, born in 1948 in Kosguli (Karnataka), is a renowned scholar in Indian philosophy and Sanskrit. He has served as Acting Director at the L.D. Institute of Indology and is currently associated with the Department of Philosophy at Gujarat University, Ahmedabad. Holding a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Bombay and Sanskrit degrees from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Dr. Shastri has contributed numerous research articles and books on Indology in both Indian and international academic forums.

This book, originally submitted as his doctoral thesis, is widely regarded as the first independent and systematic study of Mahayanasutralankara in English. It is a must-read for students and researchers in Buddhist studies, comparative philosophy, and Indian metaphysics.