On Realizing There Is Only the Virtual Nature of Consciousness

'On Realizing There is Only the Virtual Nature of Consciousness' is an English translation of the Cheng Weishì Lun, Xuanzang's definitive seventh century discourse on the nature of the mind and the restoration of its spiritual foundation according to the Buddhist School on Engaged Meditation (Yogacara). This landmark of Buddhist thought is based on Vasubandhu's 'Thirty Stanzas on There Only Being the Virtual Nature of Consciousness' (Vijnapti Matrata Trimsika Karika) and the debates on it by the great masters of meditation at the renowned Nalanda monastery over three centuries.Translated into clear English and organized in an outline form to make it readable and approachable by anyone, this unique work also provides key terms in both Sanskrit and Chinese. Many of these terms have been translated into English in new and innovative ways to offer a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on their originally intended meaning rather than merely repeating past conventions.There is also an introduction, thorough footnoting and an exhaustive index that together provide a comprehensive background on Buddhist concepts, different Buddhist schools of thought and Buddhist history relevant to the translation.This groundbreaking work provides a unique opportunity for those interested in Buddhism to cut through its seemingly complex array of terms and concepts and make sense of its profound explanation of the human condition.