阿僧伽, 無著, Thogs med
Indian author, 3rd-4th Century A.D.
-Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkāra (also attributed to Maitreyanātha; see below)
Maitreyanātha (彌勒, mGon po Byams pa):
Scholars are divided on the issue of whether Maitreyanātha was a historical figure or not. Tibetan sources tell of how Asaṅga after extensive meditative retreat travelled to Tuṣita Heaven where he received from the bodhisattva and Buddha-to-be Maitreya a series of works, of which the Yogācarabhūmiśāstra, the Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkāra, the Dharmadharmatāvibhāga, the Madhyāntavibhāgakārikā, the Abhisamayālamkāra, and the Ratnagotravibhāga are usually mentioned. The question is therefore whether, as this account states, Asaṅga wrote the texts under some sort of divine inspiration from Maitreya, in which case they should be attributed to Asaṅga, or whether Maitreyanātha was in fact a historical person working together with Asaṅga, in which case they should be attributed to Maitreyanātha. As for the name Maitreyanātha, it can be understood as the Protector Maitreya, or as the one protected by Maitreya, in which case it might in fact refer to Asaṅga himself.