Tenets Cittamatra (set of 4, 3 nature/acceptance of externality)

Question 1

The definition of Cittamatra

Answer 1

Buddhist tenet holder who does not accept externality (external reality), but asserts the other powered [nature] to exist as truly.

Question 2

Everything what comes to mind can be classified into 3 natures, what are they?

Answer 2

1. Imputed nature:
   Things which do not have a substance they come by ones own mental imputation (projection), by ones own thoughts
2. Other powered nature
   Things exist/come to being by the power of other causes and conditions = all impermanent (causal) phenomena
3. Thoroughly established nature Other powered nature being empty of imputed nature is thoroughly established nature!
   thorough, stable, ultimate = ultimate reality: as presented by Chittamatra and Madhyamaka

Question 3

Which Buddhist schools accept externality and which rejects it?

Answer 3

Accept:
1. Vaibashika!
2. Sautrantika!
3. Madhyamaka Prasangika!

4. Svatrantika Madhyamaka can be divide into 2:
5. Sautrantika Svatantrika Madhyamaka

and the group which rejects externality:
Reject:
2. Yogachara Svatantrika Madhyamaka

Question 4

For Cittamatra which nature exists truly and which not truly?

Answer 4

For Cittamatra the other powered nature and the thoroughly established nature exist truly and the imputed nature does not exist truly

Question 5

How can existence be classified into 2?
What in this context can not be classified any further?

Answer 5

Everything what comes to mind can be classified into existence and non existence!
Existence can be classified into 2: permanent and impermanent. Impermanent can not be classified any further! Permanent can be classified into 2: ultimate reality and permanent phenomena other than ultimate reality. These can not be classified any further:
What can not be classified any further?
1. non existence
2. impermanent phenomena,
3. ultimate reality
4. permanent phenomena other than ultimate reality

Question 6

Cittamatra tradition teaches in particular the set of 4 and the 3 natures. Elaborate!

Answer 6

Anything which can be seen as not having selfhood is on the left side:

non existence = imputed nature

impermanent phenomena = other powered nature

ultimate reality = thoroughly established nature

permanent phenomena other then ultimate reality = imputed nature

(No more classification necessary : anything that comes into mind falls under these 4)

Question 7

Which nature is the self being empty of externality?

Answer 7

Self being empty of externality is the thoroughly established nature, or the ultimate reality not the self!

Question 8

Why is non existence and permanent phenomena other than ultimate reality in the category of the imputed nature?

Answer 8

They come into being by the power of mental projection, not from it’s own side but from the subject.

Question 9

What nature is the externally of flower?

Answer 9

The Externality of flower falls under the imputed nature!

Question 10

What nature is the flower being empty of externality?

Answer 10

Flower being empty of externality is thoroughly established nature, because it is other powered nature being empty of imputed nature.

Question 11

What is flower for Cittamatra?

Answer 11

A flower for Cittamatra is impermanent and falls under the category of other powered nature

Question 12

Non existence and imputed nature are synonymous or different?

Answer 12

synonimous

Question 13

How do we know that self is empty of externality?

Answer 13

If trying to pinpoint where the externality is, than we do not find anything!