abhūta-parikalpa

(Sanskrit, the process of imagining or projecting what is unreal). A key Yogācāra concept describing the function of the ‘other-dependent’ or ‘relative’ (paratantra) nature (svabhāva) by which the false dichotomy of a perceiving subject (grāhaka) and perceived object (grāhya) is superimposed upon experience and results in the ‘imagined’ (parikalpita) nature (svabhāva). See also paratantra, grāhya-grāhaka, parikalpita.