Alaya-vijnana- Storehouse Consciousness

First para of article “WHAT WE THINK, WE DO. Our mind determines our personality. This article deals with the definition of personality according to Buddhism. Buddha says: ‘I say bhikkus that volition is action. Having thought, one acts through body, speech, and mind.’1 The Yogachara or Vijnanavada school of Mahayana Buddhism deals with human personality in great detail. Yogachara, which had its genesis in the Samdhinirmochana Sutra (second century ce), was largely formulated by Acharyas Asanga and Vasubandhu. The Samdhinirmochana Sutra is the seminal text of the Yogachara school. The Lankavatara Sutra (fourth century ce) is another very important text of this school. The Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra is also considered important. There are innumerable philosophical schools of Buddhism but the four principal ones are: Madhyamika, with its doctrine of shunya, nihilism; Vijnanavada, and its subjective idealism; Sautrantika, representationists; and, Vaibhasika, realists.”

This article includes Buddha’s Teachings of Anatmata, Alaya-vijnana, Nirvana is Supreme Bliss.

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This article is courtesy and copyright Prabuddha Bharata (www.advaitaashrama.org). I have been reading the Prabuddha Bharata for years and found it enlightening. You can subscribe online at www.advaitaashrama.org. Cost is Rs 100/ for one year, Rs 280/ for three years, Rs 1,200/ for twenty years and Rs 2,000 for twenty five years.”

Also read
1. Gautama Buddha points to the weakness of human nature
2. Etymology of Samantabhadri, Prajaparamita, Palden Lahmo and Taras names and parallel Hindu Goddesses

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