ABSTRACT
Mādhavācārya gives the following account of the Yogācāra idealism in Sarvadarśanasamgrāha. The Yogācāras are subjective idealists. They do not admit the existence of external objects. They admit the existence of series of momentary cognitions apprehending themselves, since the denial of their reality would lead to collapse of practical life. Dharmakīrti has said: “ One who does not perceive cognitions cannot perceive their objects.” 1 One who is not aware of cognitions cannot be aware of their objects. The Yogācāra admits that we are directly and immediately conscious of our own cognitions, and cannot, therefore, deny their reality. But he argues that these cognitions are self-luminous (svayaṃvedana): they apprehend themselves. They do not external which are non-existent.
