Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s7.t15.22

v1.c7.s7.t15.22

In the age of Gaudapada, Mahayana has already been developed for a long time, which has the significant influence in an ideological circle. Gaudapada learnt a lot of Buddhist ideas to organise the Advaita doctrine of Vedanta. He especially focussed on the concept of “Emptiness” of Mahayana to incorporate the theory of Vedanta that there is no real thing independent of Brahman. In “Agamasastra”, the theory of Mahamaya (māyā, which is the unclear magic power) is related and analysed through the length of an article by Gaudapada. It believes that universal is shown by people’s ignorance, just like the way we dream in bed, which is to support the idea of “Unity of dream and awakening”. This sense was very popular in ancient India, yet its initiator, in addition to Mahayana, Gaudapada has also made a brilliant achievement in this aspect.