Biography of Vasubandhu Boddhisattva 世親菩薩(天親菩薩)
Vasubandhu Boddhisattva 世親菩薩 (fl. 4th - 5th CE) is one of the most influential figures in the entire history of Buddhism. He was born 900 years after Buddha Shakyamuni's passing, and 200 years after Boddhisattva Nagarjuna 龍樹菩薩. He was born a Brahmin at Purusapura (identified with modern Peshawar, capital of North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan) in the state of Gandhara. His father was a court priest. His older brother, Asanga, had the capacity of a Boddhisattva, entered the Sarvastivada Buddhist order 說一切部. He was a super meditator who ended all desires, visited Tusita Heaven numerous times to seek Boddhisattva Maitreya's teachings and came away with awakened understanding of Mahayana's teaching on emptiness (non-existence). His comprehensive understanding of Mahayana Dharma led to his writing of many scriptures and his discourses on Mahayana's instructions. Vasubandhu's younger brother Virincivatsa also joined the Buddhist order and attained the state of an Arahat.
Vasubandhu like his brothers was trained on the orthodox Sarvastivada order of Buddhism. He was well read and has a thorough understanding of the ancient books, a fine young man of dignified demeanor, observed the ethical precepts strictly; a peerless titanic figure indeed. One of his greatest works was Abhidarmakosha, the most voluminous among Vasubandhu's independent expositions. With the composition of Abhidarmakosha, he came to enjoy the patronage and favour of the ruler Narasimgupta Baladitya.
Vasubandhu, was proud of the fame he had acquired, clung faithfully on to the Hinayana doctrine in which he was well-versed and, had no faith in the Mahayana, denied that it was the teaching of the Buddha. Vasubandhu had up to this time but little regard for the Yogacara treatises 唯識論 of his elder brother. He had perhaps seen the voluminous Yogacarabhumi compiled by Asanga, which may have simply repelled him by its bulk. Asanga, heard this attitude of his brother and feared that Vasubandhu would use his great intellectual gifts to undermine the Mahayana. By feigning illness he was able to summon his younger brother to Ayodhya, where he lived. At the rendezvous, Vasubandhu asked Asanga to explain the Mahayana teaching to him, whereupon he immediately realized the supremacy of Mahayana thought. After further study, the depth of his realization came to equal that of his brother. Deeply ashamed of his former abuse of the Mahayana, Vasubandhu wanted to cut his tongue, but refrained from doing so when Asanga told him to use it for the cause of Mahayana. Thereafter, he composed a number of voluminous treatises on Mahayana scriptures such as Avatamsaka Sutra, Mahaparinirvana Sutra, The Lotus Sutra, The Wisdom Sutra, Vilmalakirtinirdesa Sutra, Rimala-simha-nada Sutra, and so on. His treatises were so incisive and penetrative that it attained the status of primary textbook to be studied by all students of both the Mahayana and Hinayana traditions in the Northern Buddhist countries including Tibet.
Since ancient times, Vasubandhu has been hailed as the "author of a thousand works". He wrote 500 Hinayana treatises and 500 Mahayana treatises. The surviving works of today includes : Yogacara Trimshika 30 verses, Buddhadhatu-sastra, Dasa-bhumika-sutra-sastra, Nirva-a-sastra and so on, 29 treatises.
Based on these unparalleled works, practitioners are able to gain a deeper insight into Boddhisattva Vasubandhu's profound wisdom. In his later years, his wisdom matured and reached unparalleled heights shown in his treatises such as Trimshika 30 verses, Vimshatika 20 verses, Mahayana Samgraha, Buddhadhatu-sastra, Dasa-bhumika-sutra-sastra, Saddharma-pundarikopadesa and Sukhavati-vyuhopadesa.
So, which Dharma tradition did Boddhisattva Vasubandhu had his faith in? Much the same as Boddhisattva Nagarjuna, where his works spanned across all the various doctrines of the Buddhist traditions, it is difficult to make decisive conclusion. However, in "Mahayana Samgraha" there are special dedicated verses where he wrote in the final paragraph : "The meaning of my words on virtues actually explains my aspiration to meet Buddha Amitabha no matter what it takes, and by Buddha Amitabha's grace, attain Buddhahood". Such words we can observe and conclude to be Boddhisattva Vasubandhu's aspiration to be born in the Pureland. Also observed in his work "Sukhavati-vyuhopadesa" is this stanza : "Lord Buddha, I seek refuge in Buddha Amitabha even as far and wide as the 10 quarters, wishing only to be born in the Land of Bliss", such aspirations clearly matching perfectly with his earlier wish to be born in the Pureland, disclosing to us where his faith actually lied in.
The Pureland Lineage :
Nagarjuna Boddhisattva 150CE-250CE >>> Vasubandhu Boddhisattva 4th-5thCE >>> Master Tan Luan 476-542 >>> Master Dao Chuo 562-645 >>> Master Shan Dao 613-681.
** You may click wordings in blue for more information **
Vasubandhu Boddhisattva 世親菩薩 (fl. 4th - 5th CE) is one of the most influential figures in the entire history of Buddhism. He was born 900 years after Buddha Shakyamuni's passing, and 200 years after Boddhisattva Nagarjuna 龍樹菩薩. He was born a Brahmin at Purusapura (identified with modern Peshawar, capital of North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan) in the state of Gandhara. His father was a court priest. His older brother, Asanga, had the capacity of a Boddhisattva, entered the Sarvastivada Buddhist order 說一切部. He was a super meditator who ended all desires, visited Tusita Heaven numerous times to seek Boddhisattva Maitreya's teachings and came away with awakened understanding of Mahayana's teaching on emptiness (non-existence). His comprehensive understanding of Mahayana Dharma led to his writing of many scriptures and his discourses on Mahayana's instructions. Vasubandhu's younger brother Virincivatsa also joined the Buddhist order and attained the state of an Arahat.
Vasubandhu like his brothers was trained on the orthodox Sarvastivada order of Buddhism. He was well read and has a thorough understanding of the ancient books, a fine young man of dignified demeanor, observed the ethical precepts strictly; a peerless titanic figure indeed. One of his greatest works was Abhidarmakosha, the most voluminous among Vasubandhu's independent expositions. With the composition of Abhidarmakosha, he came to enjoy the patronage and favour of the ruler Narasimgupta Baladitya.
Vasubandhu, was proud of the fame he had acquired, clung faithfully on to the Hinayana doctrine in which he was well-versed and, had no faith in the Mahayana, denied that it was the teaching of the Buddha. Vasubandhu had up to this time but little regard for the Yogacara treatises 唯識論 of his elder brother. He had perhaps seen the voluminous Yogacarabhumi compiled by Asanga, which may have simply repelled him by its bulk. Asanga, heard this attitude of his brother and feared that Vasubandhu would use his great intellectual gifts to undermine the Mahayana. By feigning illness he was able to summon his younger brother to Ayodhya, where he lived. At the rendezvous, Vasubandhu asked Asanga to explain the Mahayana teaching to him, whereupon he immediately realized the supremacy of Mahayana thought. After further study, the depth of his realization came to equal that of his brother. Deeply ashamed of his former abuse of the Mahayana, Vasubandhu wanted to cut his tongue, but refrained from doing so when Asanga told him to use it for the cause of Mahayana. Thereafter, he composed a number of voluminous treatises on Mahayana scriptures such as Avatamsaka Sutra, Mahaparinirvana Sutra, The Lotus Sutra, The Wisdom Sutra, Vilmalakirtinirdesa Sutra, Rimala-simha-nada Sutra, and so on. His treatises were so incisive and penetrative that it attained the status of primary textbook to be studied by all students of both the Mahayana and Hinayana traditions in the Northern Buddhist countries including Tibet.
Since ancient times, Vasubandhu has been hailed as the "author of a thousand works". He wrote 500 Hinayana treatises and 500 Mahayana treatises. The surviving works of today includes : Yogacara Trimshika 30 verses, Buddhadhatu-sastra, Dasa-bhumika-sutra-sastra, Nirva-a-sastra and so on, 29 treatises.
Based on these unparalleled works, practitioners are able to gain a deeper insight into Boddhisattva Vasubandhu's profound wisdom. In his later years, his wisdom matured and reached unparalleled heights shown in his treatises such as Trimshika 30 verses, Vimshatika 20 verses, Mahayana Samgraha, Buddhadhatu-sastra, Dasa-bhumika-sutra-sastra, Saddharma-pundarikopadesa and Sukhavati-vyuhopadesa.
So, which Dharma tradition did Boddhisattva Vasubandhu had his faith in? Much the same as Boddhisattva Nagarjuna, where his works spanned across all the various doctrines of the Buddhist traditions, it is difficult to make decisive conclusion. However, in "Mahayana Samgraha" there are special dedicated verses where he wrote in the final paragraph : "The meaning of my words on virtues actually explains my aspiration to meet Buddha Amitabha no matter what it takes, and by Buddha Amitabha's grace, attain Buddhahood". Such words we can observe and conclude to be Boddhisattva Vasubandhu's aspiration to be born in the Pureland. Also observed in his work "Sukhavati-vyuhopadesa" is this stanza : "Lord Buddha, I seek refuge in Buddha Amitabha even as far and wide as the 10 quarters, wishing only to be born in the Land of Bliss", such aspirations clearly matching perfectly with his earlier wish to be born in the Pureland, disclosing to us where his faith actually lied in.
The Pureland Lineage :
Nagarjuna Boddhisattva 150CE-250CE >>> Vasubandhu Boddhisattva 4th-5thCE >>> Master Tan Luan 476-542 >>> Master Dao Chuo 562-645 >>> Master Shan Dao 613-681.
** You may click wordings in blue for more information **