The Wisdom of Yogacara

Sensei Kathie Fischer skillfully delves into the teachings of Vasubandhu and the influential Yogacara school of Buddhism. The Yogacara teachings “offer what we call an education, scaffolding, for understanding our true nature, which is compassion, which leaves nothing behind.” She focuses on Vasubandhu’s “Three Natures” of experience – imaginary nature, dependent nature, and complete realized nature. There is no hierarchy of these natures – no better or best. “These are our three human natures. . .and this is what we have to work with in our human life.” Kathie reminds us these teachings are not cosmologies telling us definitively about the nature of reality and they are not about self-improvement. They are concerned only with the alleviation of suffering. When we see the three natures in every moment, we uncover what we already are – our buddhahood. “Just as the Earth is our shared ground supporting all things living and nonliving, just this practice is the shared ground of love and compassion, supporting all things living and nonliving.”