Inside Vasubandhu's Yogacara: A Practitioner's Guide Paperback – December 6, 2016

Reading this text, the word delightful comes to mind. It combines ease of reading with relative brevity and ample profundity. How is that possible with a subject like Yogacara, considered one of the most difficult of subjects in the pantheon of Buddhist teachings? Is it easily understood with just thirty verses from Vasubandhu and a crystal clear commentary? Is it possible that we have been handicapping ourselves by considering the Buddhist teachings so difficult? Is this book ripe for beginner’s mind? Or is there a wide gap between intellectual and experiential understanding?Not being a Zen practitioner, it seemed odd finding a Zen master familiar with the writings of Vasubandhu, an early Indian teacher. The author quickly confirms his familiarity by orienting the reader with an introduction to Vasubandhu’s place in the development of Buddhism, then providing the necessary definitions of Yogacara and consciousness, its practice, and its relationship to non-self and the thirty verses. A translation of the thirty verses follows, then the commentary with its clear verse by verse explanation. That explanation is so well written it lulls you into a sense you are understanding. I’m getting this, you think. Of course there is a lot more to it than that, but it’s a wonderful start or re-start, as the case may be.Vasubandhu’s verses and the commentary are about “bringing it altogether.” Portions of many fundamental teachings are included, such as right effort and right mindfulness from the eightfold path, the not-self teachings, and the vedanas, all together a great cornucopia of teachings is included, each worthy of complete books. A previous understanding of some or all of these concepts will enrich the experience of reading this book. Adding this book to your journey will be rewarding.

Although I had practiced Theravada Buddhism for several years & then studied Zen for a while after, I hadn't heard of “Yogachara” at all, only in a passing comment in a *Blue Cliff Records* commentary by Katsuki Sekida.I did a bit of research on Yogachara & it sounded like it could be a lucrative topic for study -- so, out of the books that came up on Amazon, I liked the sound of this one & the reviews people were leaving.I was quite rewarded by my choice! The “30 verses” presented by the ancient monk, Vasubandhu, aptly point the meditative mind to the non-dual principle behind all appearances -- the true Self or Buddha-nature.However, the key to thoroughly benefiting from these verses was Ben Connelly's commentary & writing -- which was very fun, clear, and enlightening to read.He elucidates each of these ‘at-first cryptic’ verses in short chapters, drawing upon his vast Buddhist knowledge and direct Zen practice.For example, I would never have known that the 5 ‘universal factors’ are congruent to the 5 Aggregates, or if so, in what way; because Vasubandhu refers to them with nuanced terminology.Other explained concepts: the 8-Consciousnesses, Alaya (Storehouse consciousness), Manas (Self-identity consciousness), the 'supramundane path', the 3 Natures of phenomena (different than the “anatta, anicca, dukkha” list), and many others subtle terms.In short Connelly vivifies these ancient verses through his commentary and makes them practical & useful for the modern Buddhist -- and really anyone seeking self-development in general.Highly recommended for all Spiritual Seekers.-Paul C.

This book sits on my top shelf, along with the Dhammapada, the Majjhima Nikaya, Analayo's Satipatthana books, and Garfield's commentary on Nagarjuna. It is not an easy read, but it is replete with penetrating insights into the nature of human experience. Read it with a group of experienced practitioners, preferably with a teacher. Plan to spend some serious time with it.I found the Yogacara ideas to be very congenial to a modern, neuroscience informed view of the mind, and their extensions of the early Buddhist tradition added valuable depth to my understanding and practice.

Ben Connelly is a very engaging and lucid writer. He's working with a complex, abstract set of concepts, yet he keeps the reader right with him. I found myself smiling at some of the everyday observations, experiences, and activities that he used to illustrate his points. I don't think this would be the best book for a person's very first introduction to Buddhism, because the topic can be abstract and subtle. I've read the book twice now, and I'm still getting good things out of it. I'm sure I'll pick it up again in another year or so, and I'll continue to learn.

O livro estava perfeito, como novo.

Ben Connelly's commentary on Vasubandhu's Yogacara system is a practical and engaging read that proves very helpful in enriching one's understanding of Buddhist psychology. Although Yogacara is usually associated with Mahayana Buddhism, the author briefly aknowledges the similarity between the Thai Forest Tradition's emphasis on watching the mind at all times and Yogacara's mind-only philosophy in the introduction to the book. Many of Connelly's insights also echoes the teachings of Ajahn Sumedho with emphasis on pure awareness, thusness, and seeing through conceptualization (¨it's like this¨). Ben Connelly takes the time to clearly explain the rationale behind Shikantaza and how Yogacara relates to no-object meditation. The book is written in an easily approachable and unassuming style that flows very well and will be easily understood by newcomers to buddhist philosophy, and the author always explains how to put the theory where it is the most important - practice! Zen and Thai Forest Tradition practitioners will want to pick this one up.

This is a wonderful book. In the past, having studied a bit of Madhyamaka, I could not understand why so many learned people had followed Yogacara in the past - but now it is crystal-clear - and I look forward to rereading it as a practice manual in the future. It is well-written, simply and sparingly, and communicates the flavor and the result of a lifetime of practice, a kind and wholesome intention to help others. I’ve read several of the other reviews, they are all marvelous. Thank you Ben Connelly ! Wishing you a long and happy life.

Neither a devotional religious work nor a detached, academic account of ancient mystical beliefs; the idea here is very much that the Yogacara psychological outlook can help one become a better and happier person, in this life, in this century; and Connelly himself, with his warmth, modesty and skilful choice of everyday examples, comes across as a great advertisement for this thesis.

I greatly enjoyed this book. This is a nice popular-level presentation of Vasubandhu's trimshikA vijnaptimAtrtA (Thirty Verses on Consciousness Only) for practitioners. It's a short read and I highly recommend it. There is a nice glossary of English terms used and their Sanskrit equivalents at the back, which is extremely useful in understanding the text.I am deducting one star because the author sometimes seems to intermix pop-level spirituality clichés into what is a serious work in Yogachara philosophy, the trimshikA. I wish the author had used that space to flesh out the philosophical ideas more, perhaps drawing from Vasubandhu's own other works.