abstract:The ("Ornament of/for Realization[s]"), abbreviated AA, is one of five Sanskrit-language Mahāyāna Buddhist scriptures which Maitreya—a Buddha or bodhisattva (the point is somewhat controversial)--is said to have revealed to Asaga (northwest India, 4th century AD). Some scholars (Erich Frauwallner, Giuseppe Tucci, Hakiju Ui) refer to the text's author as Maitreyanātha ("Lord Maitreya") in order to avoid either affirming the claim of supernatural revelation, or identifying the author as Asaga himself.