Philosophy of Mahayana Buddhist Schools

School of Theology > Department of Buddhist Studies

Philosophy of Mahāyāna Buddhist Schools

A critical study of the origin, expansion and philosophy of Mahayana Buddhist schools are emphasised. Reference to the original sources is done with special attention drawn to the following:

• Canonical evidence of the causes that led to the emergence of Mahayana;
• The interpretation of the word Mahayana and the nature of its philosophy
• Origin and development of Madhyamaka philosophy; concept of Sunyata and its interpretations;
• Madhyamaka viewpoint of voidness; interdependent origination; Middle path;
• Samsara and Nirvana;
• Dialectical method and its adaptation;
• Nature and realization of unconditioned realities.

Special attention are paid to the concepts of Trikaya, Bodhicitta, Bodhisattva pranidhana, ideal of Bodhisattva, perfections (paramita) and ten states (dasabhumi); the causes that led to the emergence of Yogacara vignanavada; analysis of Citta matrata and Vignanamatrata; various divisions, nature and function of vignanta and how vignana differs from cittamatrata.

A general knowledge of the basic tenets and nature of Tantrayana which is an offshort of Mahayana is also explored in this module.

Recommended Reading:

• Prajna Paramita Hrdaya Sastra (with text and notes) - Ed. E. Conze, Buddhist wisdom book, 1958
• The Central Philosophy of Buddhism - T. R. V. Murti, London, 1955
• Buddhist Thought in India - E. Conze, London
• The Yogacara Idealism – A. K. Chaterjee, varanasi, 1975
• The Bodhisatva Doctrine in Buddhist Sanskrit Literature - Har Dayal, Motilal Banarsidas, Delhi
• Mahayana Buddhism - Nalinaksha Dutt, Mortilal Banarasidas, Delhi, 1978
• An introduction to Mahayana Buddhism – W.M. McGovern, Delhi
• Perfection of Wisdom - R. C. Jamieson, New York, 2000, 0670889342 0711215103
• Meditation on Emptiness - Jeffrey Hopkins, Wisdom PublicationS