Zen in Ten: Piercing the Veil of Manas
An Introduction to Vasubandhu's Thirty Verses
This post and the next two will outline the “Thirty Verses of Vasubandhu” using the translation found in Ben Connelly’s engaging book Inside Vasubandhu’s Yogacara. According to the book’s introduction: “The ‘Thirty Verses’ focuses on a twofold model of practice and understanding—the study of the functioning of consciousness and the study of the nature of phenomena—although ultimately it suggests that these two are not separate.” If the verses below pique your interest, I’d suggest picking up Ben’s book. His translation and commentary illuminates this opaque, yet profound and essential Buddhist teaching. Thanks for reading!
“Everything conceived as self or other occurs in the transformation of consciousness.”
“This transformation has three aspects: The ripening of karma, the consciousness of a self, and the imagery of sense objects.”
“The first of these is also called alaya, the store consciousness, which contains all karmic seeds. What it holds and its perception of location are unknown.”
“It is always associated with sense-contact, attention, sensation, perception, and volition, Neither pleasant nor unpleasant. It is unobstructed and karmically neutral, Like a river flowing. In enlightenment it is overturned at its root.”
“Dependent on the store consciousness and taking it as its object, Manas, the consciousness of a self, arises, which consists of thinking.”
“It is always associated with four afflictions, self-view, self-delusion, self-pride, and self-love. And is obstructed, but karmically neutral. Along with these four . . .[cont’d in #7]”
“From where it is born comes sense-contact, attention, sensation, perception, and volition. It is not found in enlightenment, the meditation of cessation, or the supramundane path.”
“That is the second transformation, the third is the perception of the six senses, Which are beneficial, harmful, or neither.”
“It is associated with three kinds of mental factors: universal, specific, and beneficial, As well as the afflictions and secondary afflictions, and the three sensations.”
“The universal factors are sense-contact, attention, sensation, perception, and volition. The specific are aspiration, resolve, memory, concentration, and intellection.”
Wonderful book!