Annual Meeting of the Philosophy and Religion Society of Thailand

Unfolding the philosophical nature of Yogac?ra

Kazal Barua

Abstract

Yog?c?ra is one of the principle schools that constitute Mah?y?na Buddhism. It is usually categorized under Indian idealistic philosophy. But debates and disputes have been continuing among the modern scholars regarding whether yog?c?ra is idealism or not or what form of idealism. Some scholars apply the terms ‘absolute idealism’ or ‘monistic idealism’ to it. But some other scholars disagree to call it idealism as it is understood in the western philosophy and attributes a different name to it. Paul Williams uses the term ‘dynamic idealism’ to yog?c?ra. Yet there are others who are completely unwilling to attribute the term idealism to it such as, Thomas A Kochumuttom calls it as ‘Realistic Pluralism”. But the controversy is still continuing regarding the topic and thus it is worthy of profound consideration.

This paper is an attempt to explore the philosophical nature of yog?c?ra. First I will present a brief discussion on the concept of Idealism as it is explained in the western philosophy. Then I will focus on the fundamental doctrines of yog?c?ra philosophy. After that I will discuss the concepts and arguments offered by the modern scholars and finally based on this over all discussion I will draw my conclusions determining the form of Yog?c?ra.

Key words: Idealism in the western philosophy, findamenta doctrines of Yog?c?ra, prevalent concepts, philosophical nature Yog?c?ra.