Asanga

Asaṅga was a central figure in the history of Mahayana Buddhism.

He lived during the fourth century CE and is recognized as the founder of the Yogācāra school. This school is often described as a form of idealism. It focuses on the role of consciousness and how we perceive the world. Asaṅga was also a major exponent of Mahayana Abhidharma. This refers to the systematic study of Buddhist doctrines and teachings. His work helped establish the Vijñānavāda tradition, which is also called the doctrine of 'awareness only.'

Scholars hold different views regarding Asaṅga's origins. Some sources state he was born into a Brahmin family in Puruṣapura. This location is known today as Peshawar, Pakistan, within the ancient kingdom of Gandhāra. However, the writings of Buton Rinchen Drub suggest he was born in Central India. He had a half-brother named Vasubandhu, who was also a famous monk. Vasubandhu belonged to the Sarvāstivāda school initially. He later converted to Mahāyāna Buddhism after meeting Asaṅga and one of his disciples.

Asaṅga's journey toward understanding involved intense study and meditation. The 6th-century monk Paramārtha recorded that Asaṅga was once unsatisfied with his knowledge. To resolve this, Asaṅga reportedly used his meditative powers, known as siddhis. He is said to have traveled to the Tuṣita Heaven. There, he received teachings on emptiness and Mahāyāna sutras from the Maitreya Bodhisattva.

Modern scholars debate the nature of this event. Some, like Frauwallner, believed Maitreya-nātha was a historical human teacher. Others, such as Sthiramati, argued Maitreya was a tutelary deity or a visionary experience.

After his spiritual experiences, Asaṅga traveled across India to spread Mahāyāna teachings. According to the historian Taranatha, he founded 25 Mahayana monasteries. One of his most significant establishments was Veluvana in the Magadha region. This area is located in what is now the Indian state of Bihar. At Veluvana, Asaṅga selected eight chosen disciples. These students became renowned masters who helped spread the Mahāyāna tradition. Asaṅga is also traditionally listed as one of the seventeen Nalanda masters.

Asaṅga authored several important treatises, or shastras. Scholars generally agree on three specific works written by him. The first is the Mahāyānasaṃgraha, which is a systematic summary of Yogācāra tenets in ten chapters. This is considered his magnum opus. The second is the Abhidharma-samuccaya, a summary of Mahayana Abhidharma doctrines. The third is the Xianyang shengjiao lun, which is based on the Yogācārabhūmi. These works provided the structural foundation for his school of thought.

Another group of texts is known as the Maitreya Corpus. In Tibetan tradition, these are called the "Five Dharmas of Maitreya."

These include the Mahāyānasūtrālamkāra, which presents the Mahāyāna path. Another is the Madhyāntavibhāga, a key work of Yogācāra philosophy containing 112 verses. The third is the Dharmadharmatāvibhāga, which discusses the link between phenomena and reality. The fourth is the Abhisamayalankara, a text attempting to synthesize different doctrines. Finally, the Ratnagotravibhaga is a compendium on Buddha-nature.

There is significant academic debate regarding the authorship of these texts. While Tibetan hagiographies credit Maitreya, many modern scholars question these attributions. Some scholars suggest the Abhisamayalankara might actually be by Arya Vimuktisena. Others argue that the Ratnagotravibhaga was likely written by Sāramati. In the Chinese tradition, different attributions exist for these same works. These discrepancies show how different Buddhist traditions have interpreted Asaṅga's legacy over many centuries. His influence continues to connect philosophy, meditation, and organized monastic life.