Yogācāra philosophy, a key school of Mahayana Buddhism, centers on the mind's role in shaping reality. It posits that our experiences are mental projections, not independent external objects. This view challenges our usual understanding of the world.

The school introduces complex ideas like the eight consciousnesses and three natures of reality. These concepts aim to explain how our minds create our experiences and how we can achieve liberation through understanding the true nature of consciousness.

Core Principles of Yogācāra Philosophy

Central tenets of Yogācāra

• Cittamātra (Mind-only) doctrine posits reality as mental projection rejects independent existence of external objects
• Eight consciousnesses theory encompasses five sense consciousnesses, manas (thinking), manovijñāna (discriminating), and ālaya-vijñāna (store-consciousness)
• Soteriological goal seeks liberation through understanding mind's nature
• Influenced Mahayana Buddhism sparked development of Buddhist logic and epistemology

Theory of three natures

• Parikalpita (imaginary nature) represents mistaken attributions to phenomena fuels dualistic thinking
• Paratantra (dependent nature) reflects causal interdependence of phenomena neither real nor unreal
• Pariniṣpanna (perfected nature) embodies ultimate reality free from conceptual elaboration realizes emptiness (śūnyatā)
• Relationship: Parikalpita misunderstands Paratantra while Pariniṣpanna truly comprehends it

Advanced Concepts in Yogācāra

Concept of store-consciousness

• Ālaya-vijñāna functions as repository for karmic seeds forms substratum of all mental activity
• Stores karmic impressions provides basis for other consciousnesses to arise
• Acts as source for seven evolving consciousnesses influences and is influenced by them
• Carries karmic seeds across lifetimes facilitates rebirth process
• Āśraya-parāvṛtti (transformation of the basis) purifies ālaya-vijñāna leads to enlightenment

Mind vs external reality

• Yogācāra idealism views external objects as mental projections adheres to consciousness-only (vijñaptimātra) doctrine
• Critiques naive realism rejects mind-independent objects
• Epistemologically asserts direct perception of mental representations allows inferential knowledge of external world
• Emphasizes mental cultivation and purification in Buddhist practice focuses on meditation and introspection
• Contrasts with Madhyamaka's emptiness doctrine shares similarities with Sautrāntika's representationalism