1001Philosophers

Vasubandhu c. 316 AD – c. 396 AD

Vasubandhu (c. 316 AD – c. 396 AD) was an Indian philosopher of the Ancient era, associated with Buddhism and Indian Philosophy.

Vasubandhu was an Indian Buddhist philosopher, one of the most important systematic thinkers in the Mahayana tradition. He first composed the Abhidharmakosha, an encyclopedic treatment of Buddhist scholastic metaphysics from a Sarvastivada perspective, before, according to tradition, being converted by his half-brother Asanga to the Yogacara, or Consciousness-Only school. His later works, including the Twenty Verses and the Thirty Verses, argue that the world we experience is a transformation of consciousness rather than an external reality. He profoundly shaped East Asian Buddhist thought.

Key facts

Nationality
Indian
Era
Ancient
Movements
Buddhism, Indian Philosophy

Selected quotes

  • Attributed to Vasubandhu:

    “All this is consciousness only, since there is the appearance of non-existent objects.”

  • Attributed to Vasubandhu:

    “What is called the world is nothing other than the transformations of consciousness.”

  • Attributed to Vasubandhu:

    “When all imagined natures are abandoned, the perfected nature reveals itself.”

  • Attributed to Vasubandhu:

    “Defilement and purification are simply different states of the same consciousness.”

  • Attributed to Vasubandhu:

    “Knowing arises in dependence upon the known; without the known, no knowing.”

Vasubandhu by topic

Frequently asked about Vasubandhu

When did Vasubandhu live?
Vasubandhu was born in c. 316 AD and died in c. 396 AD.
Where was Vasubandhu from?
Vasubandhu was an Indian philosopher of the Ancient era.
What philosophical movements is Vasubandhu associated with?
Vasubandhu was associated with Buddhism and Indian Philosophy.
What was Vasubandhu known for?
Vasubandhu was an Indian Buddhist philosopher, one of the most important systematic thinkers in the Mahayana tradition.
How many quotes are attributed to Vasubandhu?
There are 5 attributed quotations from Vasubandhu in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.