Dignāga: The Logic of Mind-Only: Investigation of the Object-Condition and Other Essential Treatises

Introduction: Dignāga and His Philosophy This volume is a comprehensive collection of the essential treatises by Dignāga Bodhisattva, the father of "New Logic" (Hetuvidyā) in 5th-6th century ancient India. Dignāga challenged the realism of earlier Abhidharma schools—specifically the existence of external atoms—and employed rigorous logic to demonstrate the Yogācāra (Mind-Only) doctrine: that the world we perceive is a projection of our own consciousness. Historical Background and Formation Dignāga lived during an era of intense philosophical debate in India. By analyzing the means of valid cognition (pramāṇa) and defining direct perception (pratyakṣa) and inference (anumāna), he provided a revolutionary logical foundation for Buddhist thought. The treatises included in this book represent the pinnacle of his thought, where epistemology and ontology are inextricably linked. Overview of Works and Their Translators This collection features several landmark treatises: 1. "Alambanaparīkṣā" (Investigation of the Object-Condition): Translated by Xuanzang, this is Dignāga’s masterpiece. It proves that the objects of our perception are not external atoms but internal mental images (antar-rūpa) appearing as if external. 2. "Hastavālaprakaraṇa" (Truth in the Palm of Your Hand) and "Mustivivaraṇa" (Unraveling the Fist): Translated by Yijing and Paramārtha, these works use vivid metaphors to deconstruct the "fist" of our conceptual attachments. 3. "Prajñaptimātrasiddhi" (Treatise on Designations) and others: These explore how we use linguistic labels (prajñapti) to construct a world that lacks inherent essence. The transmission of these texts to East Asia was made possible by the monumental efforts of great translators such as Xuanzang, Paramārtha, and Yijing, and further illuminated by later commentators like Dharmapāla. The Value of This Edition This book is an endeavor to decipher these ancient logical structures for a modern audience in English. Dignāga’s sharp insights continue to hold the power to "unravel the fist" of our delusions and liberate us from the constructs of perception even 1,500 years later.