Ebook: Vasubandhu's Vijñapti-mātratā-siddhi (with Sthiramati's Commentary) [Text with English Translation]

The Vijñāpti-mātratā-siddhi of Vasubandhu is the first systemization of the Doctrine of Consciousness (vijñānavāda). It consists of two parts. The first part is made up of twenty verses (kārikā) and so called “Viṃśatikā” while the second part is of thirty verses (kārikā) and so called “Triṃśikā”. Vasubandhu wrote a short commentary (vṛtti) on the first part. But it is not know whether he wrote on the second part as well. But the second part has as many as ten commentaries (ṭīkā) of which that by Sthiramati is available in Sanskrit.

Dr. K. N. Chatterjee has carefully edited the Kārikās, the Vṛtti and the Ṭīkā of Sthiramati. To introduce it to the English-knowing scholars, he has translated all the three in English which is as lucid as faithful to the original. The work is balanced by a historical Introduction at the beginning and critical notes at the end. The Introduction presents a total perspective of Buddhism while the Notes unravel the intricacies of Buddhist concepts. The work is a glowing tribute to his two great teachers in this field – one Indian and the other, Chinese, to whom it is dedicated. – S. Bhattacharya