Contents
Asanga
Helping establish Yogācāra, a major tradition of Buddhist thought about mind and experience.
Summary of the Great Vehicle · Compendium of Abhidharma
- Born
- Unknown
- Birthplace
- South Asia
- Died
- Unknown
More people
Asanga
Asanga was a fourth-century Buddhist thinker associated with the development of Yogācāra. His writings explain Mahayana practice and analyse how experience and understanding arise.
Early life
Uncertain origins
Later accounts disagree about his birthplace, often placing it in ancient Gandhara.
Monastic background
Tradition describes an early monastic education before his commitment to Mahayana teachings.
Career
- 4th century
Mahayana scholarship
Developed teachings associated with the Yogācāra tradition.
- 4th century
Teaching and writing
Produced systematic treatments of Buddhist practice and psychology.
Selected work
Summary of the Great Vehicle
Set out central Yogācāra ideas and the Mahayana path.
Compendium of Abhidharma
Organised Buddhist analyses of experience and mental processes.
Beyond work
Vasubandhu
Tradition identifies the influential philosopher as his half-brother.
Legend and history
Stories of receiving teachings from Maitreya belong to religious tradition; their interpretation is debated.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Institutional source ↗Photo: Unknown artist — later Tibetan woodblock depiction. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
