Is Threefold Vijñāna in Yogācāra Idealism an Innovative Concept?

Abstract

The world is controlled by the mind that is far-going and fore-running. The place given to the mind can be recognized with these explanations clearly and its role is of utmost importance. There are three technical terms in Buddhism to designate the concept of mind or consciousness. They are citta, mano and viññāṇa. However, these terms are confusingly translated into English as mind. The term ‘mind’ does not adequately convey the connotation of Pali terms citta, mano and viññāṇa. Moreover, philosophically and psychologically it has a variety of meanings. Besides, Yogācāra idealism is a philosophy as well as psychology that studies cognition, perception and consciousness. Threefold vijñāna is their fundamental teaching. It is depicted in Trinśikāvijñaptikārikā of Vijñaptimātratāsiddhi compiled by Ven. Vasubandhu. They are Ᾱlaya, Manana and Pravṛitti. The research problem of this paper is to study whether the threefold viññāṇa in Yogācāra idealism is an innovative concept or the same teaching with reference to the citta, mano and viññāṇa in early Buddhism. This is a qualitative research based on literature and information that have been collected from the primary sources in Buddhism and the relevant secondary sources and articles related to the field. Findings reveled through the analysis of facts in early Buddhism and Yogācāraidealism indicate that threefold viññāṇa in Yogacara idealism is very much similar to the citta, mano and viññāṇa. Therefore, threefold viññāṇa is not an innovative teaching and it has been introduced with the influence of early Buddhism.