Rethinking the Role of Manas for Establishing the Subjectivity of Buddhism: Focused on Vasubandhu’s Pañcaskandhaka and Sthiramati’s Works

ABSTRACT

[Objective] The purpose of this paper is to establish the subject as the foundation for metaphysical questions through an analysis of Yogācāra school. Specially, it will explain a question unique to humans, “Who am I?,” focusing on Vasubandhu’s Pañcaskandhaka (hereafter PSk) and Sthiramati’s works. This paper aims to respond to this concept from the Yogācāra perspective, rather than the early Buddhist view of five aggregates (pañcaskandha). This framework allows the introduction of new terms that did not exist before Yogācāra, namely the storehouse mind (ālayavijñāna) and the notion of ‘I’ (manas). [Contents] This paper considers manas as the subject posing metaphysical questions and aims to argue for its positive influence, contrary to conventional understanding. Therefore, I argue that manas is not a hindrance to enlightenment but rather its prerequisite. If a person suddenly aspires to nirvāṇa, their manas will face more turmoil than anyone else. This is equivalent to establishing a view of subjectivity. In this paper, I explore the role of manas in the context of the four types of contaminating mental factors (kleśa-caitasa) and self-reflectivity (manyanātmaka), establishing manas as the subject. [Conclusions] In conclusion, this paper seeks to comprehend a part of the structure in PSk and provide a positive explanation for the existence of manas, which is considered peripheral, by presenting it as the subject.