Reconsidering the Concept of cittamātra Based on the Laṅkāvatārasūtra’s Doctrine and the asal-lakṣaṇa-anupraveśa-upāya

Abstract

So far, cittamātra has been considered as the prototype or the scriptural basis to vijñaptimātra, and both concepts have been understood synonymously. However, in this article, I reconsider its meaning based on the Laṅkāvatārasūtra （LAS）, and clarify that it has different meanings from vijñaptimātra. In the LAS, cittamātra is used in the following two senses, in addition to Mind-only. First, as the state of non-discrimination, alakṣaṇa, animitta or nirābhāsa in Sanskrit, synonymous with nirvāṇa, tathatā, and śūnyatā. Second, as a stage of Buddhist practice and a means of meditation to attain non-discrimination. Moreover, LAS preaches that one should realize the entire world is merely mind, and use that as a means to enter non-discrimination.

In the Yogācara, even after the philosophical development from cittamātra to vijñaptimātra, the term cittamātra is still used in the places where asal-lakṣaṇa-anupraveśa-upāya is explained. Why is cittamātra used there? This may be because cittamātra was understood in the same way as the LAS. In other words, cittamātra is not only a synonym for vijñaptimātra but it also seems to include the meanings of non-discrimination and a means of meditation to attain it.