Buddhist cognition: A study of the 'Bashi guiju song'

The main theme of this dissertation is to examine Yogacara's way of attaining the truth of the reality of empirical existence by empirical experiences through the interpretation of eight consciousnesses not a metaphysical context. As what we realize that everything is the construction of consciousness, the Buddhist analysis of cognition is not just a metaphysical theory. In fact, it is a way for practicing empirical experience of what 'reality' is.;First, this study deals with the historical evolution and comprehensive analysis of Buddhist cognition (jnana) on major Buddhist doctrines from Early Buddhism, Abhidharma Buddhism to Mahayana Buddhism as a background for understanding the significance of the notion of jnana. It is meaningful and important to us as understanding the basic differences and similarities helps us to open our mind; to accept, appreciate and integrate the learning with that the notion of Buddhist cognition in different times and spaces of Buddhism; to experience one dharma with different emphases; to remove our own prejudice, judgment and criticism, to let go of our ego; to develop compassion and wisdom with practices of Buddha's teachings, and to serve all the beings in more ways than one.;Then, it expounds on the philosophical concepts and historical developments in the Bashi guiju song. It is the first comparative study on the ten commentaries of this text in the scholarly Taisho canon and the Xuzangjing. With an in-depth comparison among the ten commentaries, a clear and precise annotated English translation of the Bashi guiju song is presented.;Moreover, this research work investigates Buddhist cognition of the Faxiang Sect in China. As the treatise is attributed to Xuanzang, a thorough study on Xuanzang is also carried out. However, the main focus of Xuanzang studies is mainly on the implication of Xuanzang's philosophical idea on Buddhist cognition, which is rarely done.;Finally, this study is to elaborate Faxiang's cognition model on Bashi guiju song. A discussion of the extent to which the Bashi guiju song has imposed its influence and interpretation of Buddhist cognition on the mundane and supra-mundane levels of Chinese Buddhism is forwarded.