Maitreya-nātha

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Maitreya-nātha (ca. 270-350 CE) was 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 or the bodhisattva Maitreya, used pseudepigraphically. 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-vibhāga, 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.