Korea Journal of Buddhist Studies ISSN:1598-0642(Print) 불교학연구

In this research paper, I tried to investigate the meaning of Tathatā [眞如] in Yogācāra and that of Real [Réel] in the theory of Jacques Lacan. And I also clarified the correlation between the concepts. Though the Tathatā and Real are the destination to reach in each theory, a comparative study on the two concepts has not been carried out. Previous study has been confined to the concept of ‘desire’ and ‘language’. So I firstly examined ‘Unconsciousness’ in Lacan and ‘ālaya-vijñāna’ in Yogācāra in connection with the ‘language’. Subsequently I compared ‘Imaginary’, ‘Symbolic’, ‘Real’ with ‘Imagined or contrived points of view [遍計所執性]’, ‘Dependent origination [依他起性]’, ‘The complete and perfect real nature [圓成實性]’ in view of the cognition structure. Based on that study, I discussed each view of the destinations and the possibility to reach there. The results are as follows. First, Lacan explained the process of forming the subject under the premise that the system of language existed before experiencing it. But in Yogācāra, it is formed by the active subject from the divided vijñāna. Second, Lacan elucidated that the approach from Imaginary to Symbolic was the stage man experienced naturally in this lifetime, whereas in Yogācāra, the three cognition structure is changed by the practice in the worlds like the previous life, this life time and the future rebirth. Third, the ‘Real’ existing beyond the ‘Symbolic’ is the final stage of the ‘Desire’ in Lacan. But it is the world where we can never arrive in the ‘Symbolic’. So Lacan suggested that ‘Sublimation’ is the way to reach there. According to Lacan, ‘Sublimation’ is the activity fantastically satisfying the sense of emptiness from the lack of being caused by the loss of the object. Meanwhile ‘The complete and perfect real nature’ is the phrase that there is no attachment to the object. It is the stage transcending the division of the subject and object. Yogācāra claimed that we can experience it through qualitative change of mind by practice. Yogācāra and Lacan both were eager to find the solution to the problems like pain, anxiety, uneasiness, etc. While they were at it, they established the systemic theory of human mind. Thanks to this theory, we are able to find the key to the common human problems in depth.