Vasubandhu
Topic: Buddhism, Jainism and Heterodox Traditions · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Vasubandhu was a Buddhist philosopher who lived in c. 4th–5th century CE. He came from Gandhara, in north-west India, and was the younger brother of Asanga. First he wrote on the Abhidharma, the detailed analysis of Buddhist teachings. Later, guided by Asanga, he turned to Mahayana and helped build the Yogachara school. Yogachara taught that what we experience is shaped by the mind.
Example
His Abhidharmakosha became a standard summary of Abhidharma ideas and was studied across Asia. According to tradition, he taught at Ayodhya under the patronage of a Gupta king.
Don't confuse with
- Vasumitra: Vasumitra was the monk said to have presided over the Fourth Buddhist Council in Kashmir under Kanishka.
- Dignaga: Dignaga was a later thinker known mainly for founding Buddhist logic.
Related concepts
- Mahayana
- Hinayana
- Bodhisattva
- Avalokiteshvara
- Maitreya
- Tara
- Vajrayana Buddhism
- Nagarjuna
- Madhyamaka
- Yogachara