Bopitiye Wimalagnana

Bhavanga-citta and Alaya-vijñana: a Comparative and Analytical Study Bopitiye Wimalagnana

There are two major schools persist at present namely Theravada and Mahayana. These two schools presented new concepts to establish their philosophical foundation and the metaphysics. In the history of Buddhist philosophy, it can be seen some controversial statements among the Theravada and Mahayana -Yog?c?ra schools. One of the most controversial expressions is the concept of bhava?ga-citta (life-continuum consciousness) of Theravada and ?laya-vijñ?na (store-consciousness) of Yog?c?ra School. Especially, these concepts reveal the psychic process of the human being. Modern scholarship suggests that bhava?ga -citta and ?laya-vijñ?na similar to unconscious state of the mind. However, so far, there seems to be few studies done by modern scholars. But they haven?t paid more attention to the comparative study of the relevant concepts. Therefore, this study attempts to present Early Buddhist analysis of mind, Theravada and Yog?c?ra definition of consciousness, similarities and differences between bhava?ga-citta and ?laya-vijñ?na which were illustrated in the relevant texts and modern scholar?s interpretations.