With reference to the 'Yogachara' tradition of Buddhist philosophy, consider the following statements:
1. The world is built by consciousness and has no more reality than a dream.
2. Yogachara philosophy was an essential part of Hinayana Buddhism.
3. Sutralankara is the earliest text of this school of philosophy.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation:
?? The Great Vehicle (The Mahayana) school of Buddhism chiefly has two philosophical schools, the Madhyamika and the Yogachara. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
?? The Yogachara (The Way of Union) or Vijnanavadin school completely rejects realism and maintains a thorough-going idealism, not allowing even the qualified realism of the Madhyamikas. According to this school, the world is built by consciousness and has no more reality than a dream. The only reality is "Tathata" (suchness). Hence, statement 1 is correct.
?? Asanga's Sutralankara is the earliest text of the Yogachara school of Buddhist philosophy. It is said the text was compiled sometime around the 4th-5th century. Hence, statement 3 is correct.