āśraya-parāvṛtti

Definition

Āśraya-parāvṛtti refers to a concept in Yogācāra philosophy that emphasizes the transformation of the mind and its fundamental nature. This term signifies a shift in perception where the ultimate reality of things is understood as being dependent on the mind's experience rather than on external objects. It highlights how our mental constructs shape our understanding of reality, stressing that what we perceive is deeply influenced by our own consciousness.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Āśraya-parāvṛtti involves a cognitive shift where an individual realizes that their perceptions are conditioned by their own mental processes.
2. This transformation is essential for achieving enlightenment in Yogācāra, as it allows practitioners to overcome ignorance about the nature of reality.
3. In this context, āśraya-parāvṛtti represents not just a change in perception but also a reorientation of the practitioner's relationship with both self and others.
4. The process requires rigorous meditation and self-examination to uncover how attachments and delusions distort one’s understanding.
5. Understanding āśraya-parāvṛtti is crucial for comprehending how Yogācāra distinguishes between conventional truth and ultimate truth.

Review Questions

• How does āśraya-parāvṛtti illustrate the central tenets of Yogācāra philosophy regarding perception and reality?
  • Āśraya-parāvṛtti illustrates the central tenets of Yogācāra philosophy by showing that reality is not an absolute external truth but is instead shaped by our consciousness. This concept emphasizes that our understanding is filtered through mental constructs, making it vital for practitioners to realize this distortion to achieve enlightenment. By transforming their perceptions, individuals can break free from ignorance and see things as they truly are.
• In what ways does the concept of āśraya-parāvṛtti relate to alaya-vijñana within Yogācāra teachings?
  • The concept of āśraya-parāvṛtti is closely related to alaya-vijñana because both deal with the nature of consciousness and its role in shaping experience. Alaya-vijñana acts as the foundation for all experiences, storing karmic potentials that influence one's perception. As practitioners undergo āśraya-parāvṛtti, they recognize how these stored experiences and latent tendencies condition their understanding of reality, leading to transformative insight.
• Evaluate how understanding āśraya-parāvṛtti impacts a practitioner's journey towards enlightenment in Yogācāra.
  • Understanding āśraya-parāvṛtti significantly impacts a practitioner's journey toward enlightenment by fostering a deeper awareness of how their perceptions are constructed. This realization allows individuals to confront and dismantle the attachments and misconceptions that cloud their understanding. The transformative insight gained through this process helps practitioners cultivate wisdom and compassion, which are essential for overcoming ignorance and ultimately attaining enlightenment within the framework of Yogācāra.

Related terms

Yogācāra: Yogācāra, or 'Mind-only' school, is a major branch of Mahayana Buddhism that focuses on the role of consciousness in shaping reality and emphasizes meditation practices.

Alaya-vijñana: Alaya-vijñana is the storehouse consciousness in Yogācāra thought, which serves as the basis for all experiences and includes latent karmic potentials.

Pratītyasamutpāda: Pratītyasamutpāda, or dependent origination, refers to the Buddhist teaching that all phenomena arise in dependence on conditions and are interrelated.