Abhidharmakosabhasyam, 4 Volume Set

by Vasubandhu, Louis de La Vallée-Poussin, Leo M. Pruden (Translator)

This is the most important compendium of Indian Buddhist philosophy and psychology. The four volume clothbound masterwork begins with a history of abhidharma literature and covers a vast array of subjects from a Buddhist viewpoint. Some of these subjects are Buddhist cosmology and the process of rebirth, karma and the Buddhist ethical theory, mental defilements, causes of suffering and the path to enlightenment, the supernatural powers of a Buddha, a taxonomy of meditative states and a refutation of the existence of soul. "... one of the landmark achievements in the history of Buddhist Studies. Highly recommended for all academic libraries..."--Choice A selection of Choice Outstanding Books and Nonprint Materials (OABN). Contents Translator's Preface The Abhidharma--Leo M. Pruden Abhidharmakosabhasyam--L. Poussin The Dhatus The Indriyas The World Karma The Latent Defilements The Path and the Saints The Knowledges The Absorptions Refutation of the Pudgala Footnotes Index

Genres: Philosophy, Buddhism

1542 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1990

About the author

Vasubandhu (Sanskrit: वसुबन्धु; traditional Chinese: 世親; pinyin: Shìqīn; Tibetan: དབྱིག་གཉེན་, Wylie: dbyig gnyen) (fl. 4th century) was an Indian Buddhist monk and, along with his putative half-brother Asanga, one of the main founders of the Indian Yogācāra school.

Vasubandhu is one of the most influential figures in the entire history of Buddhism, and is held to have introduced formal logic to the Buddhist epistemological tradition. In the Jodo Shinshu branch of Buddhism, he is considered the Second Patriarch; in Zen, the 21st Patriarch.

Reviews

[Jane]

Early Buddhist philosophy of mind

Update: Starting Ch. 3, on the world and the three realms. Finally!