tman_and_moksa

SR No.: 020053
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: G N Joshi
Publisher: Gujarat University
Publication Year: 1965
Total Pages: 901
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 12 MB

Page 177

Acharya Shri Kailashsagarsuri Gyanmandir
Buddhism
145
upon the existence of the external world.
The Yogācāra (Vijnānavada) (amar, fazlaar) School - The third main Buddhist school which belongs to the Mahāyāna creed is known as the Yogacara School. This school is known as the Yogācāra school, since its followers believe that the absolute truth or bodhi can be attained only by the practice of Yoga. Yogācāra emphasizes the more practical aspect of the philosophy which is propounded mainly by the Vijñānavādins. The Yogācāra school is idealistic. The Yogācāras deny the existence of the external world. They contend that what can be known by us are only our own ideas. We can be directly aware of our own ideas. Our ideas themselves are the objects of our knowledge. There do not exist any concrete or material objects outside us corresponding to our ideas. What really exists are only our ideas. We have no ground to admit the existence of the outside world because we cannot go beyond our ideas. The external objects do not exist, according to the Vijñānavādins. If the external world exists, we have no means to know it. We cannot know anything except by means of ideas, and thus, ideas alone form the content of our knowledge. The world, therefore, is only ideal. It is impossible to admit the material substance as the cause of our ideas, for, matter also is simply an idea to us. The external world is only a fiction. It has no real existence. Things are clusters of sensations. The position of Vijñānavadins and the Yogācāras is like that of Berkeley who reduces the whole material À 10
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