Buddhist Yogācāra and Aṣṭāṅga Yoga: Principles and Practice
Nityananda Das Adhikari
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) October 31, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.23830062 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis |
|---|---|
| Topics | Buddhism |
| Key points | Argues that early Buddhist literature independently attests systematic yogic practices that functionally parallel those of the Pātañjala Yogasūtra, while the two traditions remain metaphysically distinct. Contends that shared Śramaṇa contexts, parallel development, Buddhist precedents, inter-philosophical interaction, selective appropriation, and reinterpretation must each be assessed with case-specific evidence. |
Abstract
Abstract: The history of Indian yogic practice is not confined to any single philosophy, tradition, or text. Although the Pātañjala Yogasūtra is a major work of Indian Yoga, systematic practices concerning ethical restraint, sense-control, meditative posture, mindfulness of breathing, concentration, meditation, samādhi, cessation, and liberating wisdom are independently attested in early Buddhist literature. Besides the Pāli Nikāyas, the Chinese Āgamas, Gāndhārī manuscripts, Buddhist Sanskrit texts, and Tibetan translations preserve important evidence for this multilingual Buddhist contemplative tradition. This study gives methodological priority to Buddhist primary sources and subsequently compares relevant passages with the Pātañjala Yogasūtra. It examines the Noble Eightfold Path and Aṣṭāṅgayoga; Śīla and Yama; Ānāpānasati and Prāṇāyāma; Indriyasaṃvara and Pratyāhāra; mindfulness and Smṛti; concentration and Dhāraṇā; Jhāna and Dhyāna; Samādhi; Prajñā and Vivekakhyāti; Nirodha and Cittavṛttinirodha; as well as karma, kleśa, bīja, Ālayavijñāna, Dharmamegha, Nirvāṇa, and Kaivalya. The study identifies significant functional parallels while emphasizing fundamental metaphysical differences. Therefore, shared Śramaṇa contexts, parallel development, Buddhist precedents, inter-philosophical interaction, selective appropriation, and reinterpretation require case-specific evidential examination.
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