The Buddha gives a systematic overview of his three great cycles of teachings (tridharmacakra), explains what his intent was in each of these cycles, and declares this foundational third-cycle sutra to be a presentation of his definitive intent.

In Elucidating the Intent, through a series of dialogues, the Buddha offers a complete and systematic teaching on the Great Vehicle (Mahayana), elucidating many difficult points regarding the ultimate and relative truths, the nature of reality, and the contemplative methods conducive to the attainment of complete and perfect awakening.

This sutra, authoritative for all Mahayana traditions, and especially fundamental for the Yogacara tradition, deals with the theory and practice of the entire bodhisattva path. Topics covered include: the secrets of mind (citta), thought (manas), and cognition (vijnana); the practices of mental stillness (samatha) and insight (vipasyans); as well as the uniquely third-cycle concepts of “subliminal cognition” (alayavijnana), and the three defining characteristics of phenomena: the imaginary defining characteristic (parikalpitalaksana), the other-dependent defining characteristic (paratantralaksana), and the actual defining characteristic (parinispannalaksana).

Combining philological and philosophical accuracy in light of recent international scholarship, Gregory Forgues’s translation marks a significant advance over prior versions. This new rendering, with a brief introduction and extensive glossary, introduces a new generation of scholars and practitioners to its rich offerings.