-
Indian Philosophy an...
Indian Philosophy and Religion
A Readers Guide by: Bibhu Padhi , Minakshi PadhiThe book presents a comprehensive account of the six Indian classical systems and the Carvakas, and of their texts and their exponents. Unfolding a panorama of the Hindu divinities, it also discusses Jainism and Buddhism as religions and philosophies.
$26.00
ISBN: 9788124603284
Year Of Publication: 2005
Edition: 2nd
Pages : x, 413
Bibliographic Details : Bibliography; Glossary; Index
Language : English
Binding : Paperback
Publisher: D.K. Printworld Pvt. Ltd.
Size: 23 cm.
Weight: 700
In India, philosophy and religion are linked intimately, inseparably. Barring the Carvakas materialistic school, every other school has concentrated not just on the spiritual way of life in the here-and-now, but on the eventual spiritual salvation of man in relation to the universe. However, notwithstanding the centrality of its spiritual concerns, Indian philosophy has not altogether glossed over materialism; rather it has known it, overcome it, and has accepted idealism as the only tenable view -whatever specific form that idealism might take: mythological, popular or technical. Offering a brilliant prefatory discussion on the nature and thematic importance of the Vedas, the Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita, Padhis book tries to capture Indias fabulous philosophic genius, with comprehensive, at once objective account of all the six classical systems: the Nyaya, the Vaisheshika, the Samkhya, the Yoga, the Purva Mimamsa, and the Vedanta; and, in addition, of the Carvakas: the crass materialists. And of their numerous texts and their exponents: classical, medieval, and modern. Also unfolding a panorama of the Hindu pantheonic divinities, the authors present Jainism and Buddhism: both as religions and philosophies -with focus on their world- views of ethics, major doctrines and significant metaphysical theories, among other aspects. Uninfluenced either by the idealistic/eulogistic studies of certain Indian scholars, or by the damaging critiques of their Western counterparts, the authors aim to achieve utmost objectivity in their presentation. Which, together with extensive bibliographic references and glossary of Sanskrit terms, makes the book an authentic guide for the discerning readers of Indian philosophy, religion and mythology.
Preface
1. Introduction : The Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad-Gita
The Vedas
The Upanishads
The Bhagavad-Gita
2. Charvaka and Indian Materialism
Charvaka/Lokayata Literature
Theory of Knowledge
Metaphysics
Ethics
3. Jainism
Literature
Theory of Knowledge
Jaina Logic
Metaphysics
Jaina Ethics
4. Buddhism
Literature
Early Buddhism: A Glance
The Theory of Dependent Origination (Pratitya-Samutpada)
Theory of Causation (Arthakriyakaritva)
Doctrine of No-Self (Anatta)
The Doctrine of Action (Karma)
The Root-Conditions or Generative Causes (Sadhetavah)
Concomitant Conditions or Subordinate Causes (Chatvarah Pratyayah)
Buddhas Ethics
Theory of Knowledge
Schools of Buddhism
The School of the Vaibhasikas
The School of the Sautantrikas
Nirvana in the Hinayana School
The School of Yogachara
The School of Madhyamika
Buddhist Logic
5. Vaisesika-Nyaya
Vaisesika and Nyaya Literature
The Vaisesika Categories (Padartha)
The Vaisesika Theory of Causation (Asatkaryava)
The Atomic Theory
The Nyaya Categories
Logic and Epistemology
Theory of Meaning and Truth
Sources of Knowledge
God in Vaisesika and Nyaya
Bondage and Liberation in Vaisesika-Nyaya
6. Samkhya-Yoga
Samkhya and Yoga Literature
Theory of Causation
Purusha
Prakrti
Theory of Evolution
Evolutes
Theory of Knowledge
Influence on other Systems
The System of Yoga
Sufferings and the Removal of Sufferings
Karma or Action
Ashtanga-Yoga or The Eight Limbs of the Yogic Process
7. Purva Mimamsa
Literature
Theory of Knowledge
The Word (Sabda): A Survey of Mimamsa-Sutra
Mimamsa Ritualism
Metaphysics
8. Vedanta (Uttara-Mimamsa)
Advaita Vedanta
Visishtadvaita Vedanta
Dvaita Vedanta
9. Hindu Gods and Goddesses
Glossary of Major Terms
Index
-
Action, Freedom and Responsibility $30.00
This book, a work on human doing, analyses and applies three central aspects of human life – Action, Freedom and Responsibility – in the wide spectrum of the Philosophy of Mind. Reflections on these issues and their interconnections have a significant effect on the Philosophy of Value and application of ethical theories in practical life. This book even reconstructs the conceptual connection between action and freedom, on the one hand, and that between freedom and responsibility, on the other.
It also puts the concepts of freedom and determinism to critical test and reinterprets them from different angles and perspectives. The conventional doctrine of karma, based on the teachings of the Bhagavadgātā, is relieved from its usual deterministic presentation and a logically reasonable explanation is offered.
Human actions and human agency are central concepts in the philosophy of mind and action. Free will and responsibility constitute the bedrock of the moral life of the human agents and the book pinpoints that freedom is meant to undertake the goal-oriented actions. It is, therefore, focused on the enquiry into the various aspects of philosophy of mind, as well as the philosophy of value. -
Vada in Theory and Practice $44.00
Vada, meaning debates, dialogues, discussions, was the quintessential of Indian spirit, enabling and promoting the growth of different philosophical and knowledge systems of India. It percolated deep into our mindset and enriched the moral, ethical, religious and sociocultural edifice of anything that was essentially Indian in nature. As continuation of Anvikshiki from the bc era, vada helped thrive Indian traditional knowledge systems. It subsists on diversity and its tradition envisages pluralism.
Most of our Sanskrit works, covering a wide gamut of knowledge systems, are structured in the techniques of debate. This reality applies not only to the philosophical writings, but to Indian medical systems (Ayurveda), Arthashastra of Kautilya and Kamasutra of Vatsyayana as well. Even great epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata are no exceptions.
Vada culture involved verbal duals, attacks and even violence of speech, and all major religious systems — old or modern — were parties to it. This book also elucidates how vata was vital and critical for the growth of our socio-political fabrics. It shows how some of the major conflicts in philosophical systems were centred around karma, jnana, choice between violence and non-violence, pravritti and nivritti. It also presents the manifestations of vada on a vast canvas during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Modern spiritual and religious gurus like Ramana Maharshi, J. Krishnamurti and Vinoba Bhave were men of dialogues. Our scholars have applied the varied techniques of vada against the philosophical and scientific systems of the West to prove them correct.
This collector’s issue should enthrall a wide audience of philosophers, scholars and believers in Indian knowledge systems. -
Brahman and the World $20.00
“The Vedānta has been rightly called the Finest Fruit of Indian Thought and the Upaniṣads as the Finer Flowers. Vedānta grows out of the teachings of the Upaniṣads and passes into the various systems in the writings of Śaṅkara, Bhāskara, Rāmānuja, Madhva and Vallabha, the great founders of Advaita, Bhedābheda, Viśiṣṭādvaita, Dvaitādvaita and Śuddhādvaita, respectively. However, there is a perception among Orientalists that while the Upaniṣads favour the Monistic doctrine, Bādarāyaṇa’s Brahmasūtra fundamentally opposes it on some of the most crucial points.
The book thus delves deep into the philosophies of both Bādarāyaṇa and Śaṅkara in enunciating the essential features of Brahman and Its association with the world. It thus discusses topics such as what sort of cause Brahman is?, and what sort of material causality is to be ascribed to It? It also addresses the conflicting views on the nature of Brahman like that of Vivarttavāda and of Rāmānuja’s Saguṇa-Brahman.
This book proposes to take up the question of Universal Causation to examine thoroughly as how far it is right to regard Brahman as the Universal Cause and how far sūtrakāra himself lent his support to each of the inter-conflicting schools of Vedānta. This book should, therefore, benefit all who are devoted to the philosophic teachings of Advaita Vedānta and its preceptors.” -
Sleeping to Dream and Dreaming to Wake Up $54.00
“Dreams play a significant role in our life, meaningfully affecting us in the development of our personality and our spiritual journey. They are an everyday experience for any human being. Dreams have always been of great interest to poets and philosophers alike since ancient times and examples are aplenty in Indian and Western scriptures. However, it is an uphill task for an ordinary person to fully appreciate the intricacies and significance of dreams in the day-to-day life. It is here that this book proves as an invaluable guide providing deep understanding on the nature of dream and sleep.
This book is a repertoire of human wisdom – gathered for centuries and attested by the modern science – offering enormous insights into our dream and deep-sleep states. It asks, from a common man’s point of view, many a question that perturb us and provides answers to them from the scientific and spiritual perspectives in a captivating way. Some such questions include:
• Do we see dreams in black and white or in colour?
• What does a visually-challenged person see in his dreams?
• Why are some of our dreams extraordinarily vivid with electric colours, the clarity and brilliance of which, we may never encounter in our ordinary waking lives?
• Why are we non-reflective, irrational in our dreams?
• Are the dream time and waking time equal?
• How does our memory work in dream state? Why do we forget our dreams and is it possible to improve dream recall and cultivate awareness in dreams?
• Why do we fail to distinguish a dream object from the physical world object while we are dreaming?
• If the dream experience exactly feels like the real world and we fail to distinguish it from the waking world while we are dreaming, how can we be certain that we are not dreaming now?
• How does a dream contain various persons exhibiting opposite emotions at the same time when all the dream characters including the witnessing dreamer are produced out of single mind of the dreaming person?
• Can we intentionally transform the dream scenarios? If so, what would be the philosophical implications of it?
• Can dreams and sleeps be utilized for spiritual elevation?
… and many more questions we always wondered about the daily eight hours of our bed time, but never got the right answers to! We find new meanings and ways in dealing with our dreams in this volume, therefore, it is a must read for every dream enthusiast as well as any serious spiritual seeker.
“ -
Theory of Karma: As Interpreted in Brahmasutra and Bhagavadgita $40.00
Creation is a process, where the potential insentient matter (prakr̥ti) gets manifested into the gross form, to embody during the sr̥ṣṭi, each of the sentient entities called the ātmas with the suitable body either of deva, manuṣya, jaṅgama or of sthāvara. This glorious activity is orchestrated by the one and only Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient Reality called Brahman. But one question remains still an enigma, as to why a particular sentient entity gets a specified body and through whose direction that decision arrives? The ancient Vedāntic knowledge reinforced by the Brahmasūtra and the Bhagavadgītā establishes that it is, purely and solidly, the result (karma-phala) of earlier actions (karmas) of each one of the sentient entities. This is a strong and formidable solution to the unanswered questions like why does, one child being blessed to be born in either rich or healthy and sāttvic family and another child being consigned to be born in a family living in poor conditions or unhealthy tāmasic environment.
This book would engage the readers to think on those lines by supplying enough material on karma-adhikāratva, jīva-kartr̥tva and Divine intervention.
