Asanga (Buddhism)

Summary

The video explores the life and contributions of Asanga, a pivotal figure in Mahayana Buddhism. It covers his early life, education, and spiritual journey, including his deep connection with meditation and his shift to the Mahayana tradition. The central narrative focuses on his 12-year retreat, his encounters with mysterious figures, and a transformative experience with a suffering dog, revealing deep lessons in compassion. Asanga’s teachings, especially his five dharma texts, solidified his impact on Buddhism, particularly the Yogacara school, leaving a lasting legacy in the spiritual world.

Takeaways

• 📜 Asanga was born in 375 CE in Purushapura, present-day Northern Pakistan, and was the eldest of three brothers.
• 👨‍🏫 He was extensively educated by his mother, Parasha Sheila, a devoted Brahman who had been a learned Buddhist Pandit in a previous life.
• 🧘 Asanga excelled in meditation, debate, mathematics, and the fine arts and was drawn strongly to Buddhist teachings.
• 📚 He mastered the Hinayana scriptures and studied Mahayana sutras, memorizing vast amounts of teachings but struggled with understanding some advanced sutras.
• 🏞️ Discontent with certain Hinayana concepts, Asanga turned to the Mahayana tradition and became a teacher in the Yogacara school, which taught that the external world exists only as mental images.
• ⚠️ Trigger warning: Asanga's most well-known story involves graphic content, including his encounter with a wounded dog covered in maggots, during his spiritual quest.
• 🐕 After years of meditation and failure to see the Buddha Maitreya, Asanga helped an injured dog, which ultimately led to his vision clearing and seeing Maitreya.
• 💡 This experience teaches the importance of perseverance and compassion in clearing obscurations and realizing one's Buddha nature.
• 📖 Asanga's major contributions to Buddhism include founding the Yogacara school and receiving high teachings from Maitreya, which he recorded as the Five Dharma Texts of Maitreya.
• 🌏 His works had a significant impact on Buddhism, particularly in Tibet and East India, influencing Mahayana teachings and the development of the Yogacara doctrine.

Q & A

Who was Asanga and when was he born?

Asanga was a prominent Buddhist master born around 375 CE in Purushapura, the main city of Gandhara, present-day Northern Pakistan.

What school of religion did Asanga follow and what were his primary teachings?

Asanga initially studied the Hinayana scriptures but later became a prominent figure in Mahayana Buddhism, particularly the Yogacara school, which teaches that the external world exists only as mental images.

What challenges did Asanga face in his meditation retreat on Mount Kukuta?

During his 12-year meditation retreat, Asanga struggled with seeing no signs of spiritual progress. He became discouraged multiple times, leaving and returning to the cave after witnessing symbolic acts of persistence, such as a man polishing an iron pole and a man using a feather to stroke a rock.

What was the significance of Asanga's encounter with the crippled dog?

Asanga's encounter with the crippled dog, covered in maggots, marked the moment when his compassion overcame his personal struggles. This act of compassion enabled him to finally see Maitreya, the future Buddha, who had been with him throughout his retreat in different forms.

What lesson does Asanga's story of meeting Maitreya teach about spiritual practice?

The story highlights the importance of persistence and compassion in spiritual practice. It shows that clearing away obscurations and developing compassion are key steps toward Enlightenment, and that Buddhas can appear in unexpected forms, but only if one's mind is pure enough to perceive them.

What were Asanga's main contributions to Buddhism?

Asanga's major contributions to Buddhism include establishing the Yogacara school of idealism, developing Maitreya's teachings, and writing the 'Five Dharma Texts of Maitreya' based on his experience in the heavenly realms. His works laid the foundation for the Yogacara and Cittamatra (Mind-Only) systems.

What are the 'Five Dharma Texts of Maitreya' written by Asanga?

The 'Five Dharma Texts of Maitreya' include: 1) Discourse on the Levels of Realizations, 2) Commentary on the Mahayana Sutras, 3) Differentiating the Middle from the Extremes, 4) Differentiating Phenomena in Their Actual Nature, and 5) The Furthest Everlasting Continuum.

Why was Asanga dissatisfied with the Hinayana teachings?

Asanga was dissatisfied with the Hinayana concepts of 'Sunyata' (emptiness) and 'Pudgala' (personal identity), finding them insufficient in understanding the deeper nature of reality, which led him to turn to Mahayana teachings for greater spiritual insight.

What role did Asanga's mother play in his early education?

Asanga's mother, Parasha Sheila, was a Brahmin who had been a learned Buddhist Pandit in a previous life. She educated him extensively, especially in meditation, and introduced him to major divisions of learning such as writing, debate, mathematics, and fine arts.

How did Asanga's act of compassion toward the dog lead to his spiritual awakening?

When Asanga demonstrated immense compassion by attempting to care for the crippled dog and maggots, this act finally cleared enough of his obscurations for him to see Maitreya, who revealed that he had been guiding Asanga all along. This moment marked a turning point in Asanga’s spiritual awakening.