A study of the development and philosophical implications of the Buddhist concept of self-consciousness (Svasaṃvedana)

Abstract

The present study is an attempt to trace the development and philosophical implications of the Buddhist concept of svaṃvedana (self-consciousness or cognition of cognition). The philosophical discourses of cognition of cognition are related to the main issues of epistemology, ontology and soteriology and gradually generate a formulation of the self-cognition doctrine. Chapter one sets out to give an account of issues to be discussed and the methodological approach for this research. Chapter two focuses on the origin and the evolution of the concept svasaṃvedana from the historical perspective of Indian philosophy. The viewpoints of four influential Buddhist schools concerning svasaṃvedana are interpreted. Chapter three establishes the framework of thematizing svasaṃvedana through the efforts of Dignāga. The definitions of self-cognition found by Dignāga become the central theme of later Vijn͂ānavāda (Mind-only) Buddhism. Chapter four discusses the similarity and difference of Dignāga with Dharmakirti in their doctrines of svasaṃvedana. The contribution of Dharmakīrti is his advancement of Dignāga’s postulation by providing a detailed exposition with sound logical grounding. Chapter five elaborates the views of Dharmapala and Sthiramati on the issues of consciousness with object image and the mind structure. Their contentions are directed to redefining the self-consciousness as the substance of mind and cause of knowledge so as to defend the idealistic premise of the Mind-only system in different perspectives. Chapter six concludes the diversity of interpretation by different Buddhist scholars concerning self-cognition. The impacts of their discourses on some Buddhist philosophical issues are examined so as to identify their positions and contributions. In the search of the evolution and the implicit meanings of the notion of self-consciousness, it is hoped that my work is able to expound the intelligent viewpoints of Buddhist philosophers who have contribution to new insights of the Buddhist doctrines.