THE RELEVANCE OF ALAYAVIJÑĀNA AND CONSCIOUSNESS IN MODERN WORLD

Abstract

This paper presents an arrangement with the idea of Alayavijñāna, the Storehouse consciousness, of Buddhism, in parallel with the concept of consciousness itself within the modern world. Drawing from Buddhist philosophical traditions, particularly the Yogācāra school, this study investigates Alayavijñāna as the fundamental, general, and underlying consciousness to bring forth other forms of consciousness. While it is usually depicted as the eighth consciousness, it constitutes the basic foundation of all experiences, bottomed out on the list of all possible thoughts, feelings, and actions. Although the concept itself seems metaphysical, Alayavijñāna opens us for inquiries of the nature of mind and the potential effects of minds on human beings that has a deep connection with contemporary scientific and philosophical inquiries. Analyzing the impact of Alayavijñāna, concerning modern ideas of consciousness brings this article to reveal the significance of this concept in addressing contemporary issues such as mental health, artificial intelligence, and the nature of reality. This study illustrates that Buddhist philosophical insights can help to make sense of modern discourse regarding the more profound and more recognizing accounts of consciousness. Such study might also reveal insights into contemporary issues like the power of mindfulness and meditation, the interconnectedness of all beings, and perhaps the role of technology in shaping consciousness. This paper will demonstrate that the legacy of such ancient Buddhist thought is still applicable to deal with the problems associated with the modern world by applying the insights of Alayavijñāna regarding contemporary challenges.