published_or_final_version / Gerontology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

The research explores the interplay between causality and the notion of time in Yogācāra Buddhism. There has been a long debate over whether time is an objective reality with independent ontological status or, in contrast, a subjective experience that is dependent on mind. Until now, the two sides have failed to provide a clear and complete explanation of our temporal conception of things. A similar situation can be identified in the development of the notion of time in Indian philosophy. The concept of time (kāla) in the Indian tradition has evolved from cosmological speculations and the notion of divine power as developed in the Upanisads, where time is identified with Brahman (God), which is postulated as the ultimate ground of existence. On the other hand, in Buddhist philosophy our temporal conception of things is explained with our psychological experience. The limited investigation into the teachings of Yogācāra Buddhism has created a vacuum in our knowledge of the concept of time as understood by this particular Buddhist tradition. The thesis argues that concepts of time in Yogācāra are closely linked with its spiritual practice and its explanation for temporal experience as it occurs in the internal mind. It is the Vijñānavāda theory of causality that mediates between mind and spiritual practice. Here, time is defined as a nominal designation for an uninterrupted series of causal activities. When causality links with the flowing stream of time in the past, present and future, it creates the impression of a linear relation between the cause and the arising of the effect. In this thesis, primary sources in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese are presented in order to show that there are doctrinal materials to support that it is around this central theme on which Yogācāra discussion on time hinger. The thesis demonstrates that the study of time in Yogācāra is divided into three strata: staring from the soteriological investigation by Maitreya and Asanga then developed into phenomenological inquiry in Vasubandhu’s idealistic position, and completed in the epistemological system of Dignāga and Dharmakīrti. This research is intended to fill a gap in the study of the Buddhist concept of time and to provide a possible resolution to the contemporary debate over the nature of temporal notions by examining it from the religious and philosophical perspectives found in Yogācāra Buddhism. / published_or_final_version / Buddhist Studies / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

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Well-developed bodies of research exist in the separate areas of religious identity and social engagement, but only a small selection of recent work is devoted to understanding their intersection. This dissertation adds to this selection by exploring the connections between religious identity and social engagement. More specifically, this work focuses on understanding the role that individual and collective interpretations of religious identity play in shaping the socio-psychological processes that influence whether, and in what capacity, individuals and groups devote themselves to social change. This work attempts to achieve four goals: 1) to explore the multilevel nature of religious identity within society; 2) to evaluate the effects of religious identity on social engagement; 3) to show the usefulness of quantitative methodologies to social movement research; and 4) to add to the body of research in the field of religion and social movements. I find that the relationship between religious identity and attitudes and behaviors related to social engagement is more complex than current approaches acknowledge.

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