Tenet Cittamatra (Classification/death and Alaya/putative and substantial self)

Question 1

Classification of Cittamatra

Answer 1

1) True Aspectarians
A) Proponents of an equal number of objects and subjects
B) Half-Eggist
C) Non-pluralist

2) False Aspectarians
A) Advocating Stains
B) Advocating Stainlessness

The false Aspectarians are considered deeper, subtler

The true Aspectarians accept the concept of Alaya vijnana (kün schi):

Question 2

Questions for the Cittamatrens:
Does the blue flower exist as blue as it appears to mind?

Answer 2

True Aspectarians Cittamatrens: Some say yes!

False Aspectarians Cittamatrens: Some say it is deceptive, it does not exist as it appears to mind.

Both agree that there is no externality!

Question 3

8 Classes of Consciousness (Chittamatra True Aspectarians)

Answer 3

1-5) Sense Consciousnesses
6) Mental Consciousness
7) Alayavijnana - autonomous substantial self, undefiled and neutral
8) Afflicted Consciousness - defiled and neutral

Normally it is only 6: the 5 sense conciousness and the mental conciousness!

Question 4

What is the putative self and substantial self and who does accept and not accept it?

Answer 4

Vaibhasika and Sautrantika except Prasangika talk about a substantial self and a putative self:
Putative self:
I am kind, I am not kind, intelligent old, male…etc. described with physical and mental attributes!

Substantial self:
I am here! That is how the conventional world identifies self.

Question 5

What is the putative self for Sautrantika?

Answer 5

Putative self : I

Substantial self: mental conciousness

Sautrantika following the scriptures say that the continuum of the aggregate is the substantial self.

Question 6

In Cittamatra is Alaya a permanent or impermanent phenomena?

Answer 6

Alaya is seen as impermanent phenomena.

Question 7

In Cittamatra what travels to the next life?

Answer 7

Cittamatra say that the continuum of mental conciousness dies and is not the self! Only the imprints travel to the next life, which is Alaya! It is the substantial self. ==> one of the 8 classes of conciousness.

When dying karmic created objects and conciousness dissolve back into the alaya.
==>
For Cittramatra there is no externality, all is just like the reflection of a mirror. When the mirror is created the reflection also comes into creation (object)

Question 8

Is there an externality for Cittamatra?

Answer 8

For Cittramatra there is no externality, all is just like the reflection of a mirror. When the mirror is created the reflection also comes into creation (object).

Question 9

What do Prasangika say concerning the Alaya conciousness?

Answer 9

Prasangika say all happens on the mental conciousness, there is no Alaya Vijnana! Everything described about the Alaya is happening on the mental conciousness level!
They say the sense conciousness can be like the wave on the mental conciousness, but not the objects!

(This is actually not true. It is only in the Gelugpa tradition as described above)