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Vasubandhu
Vasubandhu. The half-brother of Asaṅga, he was probably born during the late 4th century ce in north-west India where he initially studied Sarvāstivādin Abhidharma as presented in the Mahāvibhāṣā. Dissatified with those teachings, he wrote an important summary and critique of the Mahāvibhāṣā from the Sautrāntrika viewpoint. Later in his life he is said to have converted to Mahāyāna and become one of the most influential founders of the Yogācāra school. He wrote two key works summarizing Yogācāra doctrines, the Viṃśatikā and the Triṃśikā as well as several major commentaries on works by Asaṅga and Maitreyanātha. Some modern scholars, notably Frauwallner, have sought to distinguish two Vasubandhus, one the Yogācārin and the other the Sautrāntika, but this view should probably be rejected now on the basis of the anonymous Abhidharma-dīpa which clearly identifies Vasubandhu as the sole author of both groups of writings.
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Cite this article
DAMIEN KEOWN. "Vasubandhu." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DAMIEN KEOWN. "Vasubandhu." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-Vasubandhu.html DAMIEN KEOWN. "Vasubandhu." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-Vasubandhu.html |
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Vasubandhu
Vasubandhu (4th/5th cent. CE). Buddhist philosopher, said to be a younger brother of Asaṅga. According to tradition, Vasubandhu was originally a follower of Sarvastivāda (in Hīnayāna). When the teachings of the Mahāyāna were revealed to him, Vasubandhu quickly came to see its superiority and embraced the Vijñānavāda school which his brother had established. Vasubandhu's major works include the Abhidharmakośa, a scholastic compendium, and the extensive Vijñapti-mātratā-siddhi, a work on idealism. Shorter works are the Triṃśikā and the Viṃśatikā, which summarize the essence of the Vijñānavāda system.
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Cite this article
JOHN BOWKER. "Vasubandhu." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN BOWKER. "Vasubandhu." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Vasubandhu.html JOHN BOWKER. "Vasubandhu." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Vasubandhu.html |
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