Maitreya-nātha

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Maitreya-nātha (ca. 270-350 CE) is a name whose use was pioneered by Buddhist scholars Erich Frauwallner, Giuseppe Tucci, and Hakiju Ui to distinguish one of the three founders of the Yogācāra school of Buddhist philosophy, along with Asanga and Vasubandhu. Scholars are divided in opinion whether the name denotes a historical human teacher of Asanga or the bodhisattva Maitreya, used pseudepigraphically by Asanga. The tradition itself holds that Asanga received the texts in question from Maitreya directly in a mystical encounter. The number of works attributed to him vary in the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism and Chinese Buddhism, but variously include:

• the Yogācara-bhūmi-śāstra
• the Mahāyāna-sūtrālamkāra-kārikā
• the Dharma-dharmatā-vibhāga
• the Madhyānta-vibhāga-kārikā
• the Abhisamaya-alamkāra
• the Ratna-gotra-vibhaga, also known as the Uttaratantrashastra

The last five works are often referred to, collectively as the Five Dharmas of Maitreya, and their authorship is given variously to Maitreyanatha, Asanga or a combination thereof.