The theory of citta, manas and Vijñāna is a rather complicated Buddhist theme in the Southern Northern Dynasties of China. In particular, the understanding on ālayavijñāna is quite diverse. Three opinions can be induced: defiled, pure, and both defiled and pure. Hui-shih and Chih-yih of Tientai Sect were in this period. How did they look at this question？ Did they have different opinions？ According to this study, because Hui-shih stressed on the practice of meditation, he considered ālaya vijñāna as pure. On the other hand, because Chih-yih stressed on the clarification of question, he was critical about the three opinions on ālaya vijñāna and considered the three as ‘one in three and three in one’. The rather controversial The Techniques of Samatha and Vipaśyana in Mahāyāna Buddhism considers ālaya vijñāna as both defiled and pure. As to the problem of citta, manas, and vijñāna, Hui-shih didn't distinguish them very clearly. Especially, he seemed to be ambiguous about the 7th vijñāna and called it ‘vajra prajñā’. The same case happend in The Techniques of Samatha and Vipaśyana in Mahāyāna Buddhism. Yet, chih-yih still based on the attitude of clarifying problems to criticize the existing opinions and speculated on citta, manas and vijñāna comparatively by considering the three as ‘one in three and three in one’. Although the standpoint of The Techniques of Samatha and Vipaśyana in Mah yāna Buddhism is different from the viewpoint of Hui-shih, its stress on the vajra prajñā is considered as the continuation of Hui-shih's core thought on meditation. This can show its close relationship with Hui-shih. Although it was affected by The Saastra on the Arising Faith in Mahāyāna and considered the ālaya vijñāna as both defiled and pure, it didn't change the viewpoint on the essence of meditation. This would further prove its relationship with Hui-shih. Considering the ālaya vijñāna as both defiled and pure is only an application of the development of thought. This shows that a controversial book like The Techniques of Samatha and Vipaśyana in Mahāyāna Buddhism would Obtain a different conclusion when discussing the problem from a different dimension. This paper consists of three parts: 1. To investigate Hui-shih's viewpoint on citta, manas and vijñāna. 2. To describe Chih-yih's viewpoint on citta, manas and vijñāna. 3. To discuss the viewpoint in The Techniques of Samatha and Vipaśyana in Mahāyāna Buddhism.
