Systems of Buddhistic Thought

'Systems of Buddhist Thought' First of all, the author says that Buddhism consists of partially developed and fully developed Mahāyānism. The Madhyamikas and the Vijñānavādins fall into the category of partially developed Mahāyānism, while the Avatamsaka school the Dhyana school, the Mantra school as well as the great Chinese school of Buddhism known as Tien Tai school are included in the fully developed Mahāyānism. There is a second method of classification which is based on a practical point of view.

Last comes the psychological classification of Buddhism which corresponds to the psychological division of all mental functions into intellect, emotion and volition. In the course of the discussion on the subject of Alaya pheno menology, the author has gried to explain the distinction between noumenon and phenomenon. In the context of the Buddhist philosophy it must be properly understood that noumenon represents the Parinspanna and phenomenon represents the Paratantra. Their mutual relationship is such as we cannot separate one from the other. The phenomena are the mani festations of the noumenon.

In the twentieth century a good number of scholars have studied Buddhism. Among them are the Britshers, the Americans, the Chinese, the Japanese, the Ceyloneses, the Tibetans and the Indians, After a careful perusal of the work done by scholars, it can be said that they have developed a particular outlook towards Buddhology. It may also be mentioned that all these scholars have studied Buddhism in the light of their respective cultural and civilizational perspectives.

In the introductory part of the book, 'Systems of Buddhist Thought' which is a collection of lectures delivered by the author Yamakami Sogen, a mention of four types of divisions of Buddhism has been made. First of all, the author says that Buddhism consists of partially developed and fully developed Mahāyānism. The Madhyamikas and the Vijñānavādins fall into the category of partially developed Mahāyānism, while the Avatamsaka school the Dhyana school, the Mantra school as well as the great Chinese school of Buddhism known as Tien Tai school are included in the fully developed Mahāyānism.

**Contents and Sample Pages**