Genre: Philosophy
Language: English
Price: Rs.795.00 + shipping
This is an introduction to Advaita Vedanta (aka Kevala Advaita or only Advaita) as the prime non-dualist tradition of the Indian subcontinent. It differs from most other books on the subject both in approach and in scope. The approach is 'constructive' - the philosophical development of the tradition is discerned on the basis of metaphysical and exegetical criteria. Vedanta history is traced right from its protohistoric origins to the New Vedanta of 20th century. In the process important aspects of Advaita's theology, sociology and its relationship with modern science are delineated.
Vedanta is seen here as a tradition moving away from the exclusivity of Vedic rituals to connect with other Indic traditions on axiological grounds. True to this view; non-dualist themes of Shaiva, Shakta, Bauddha, Vaishnava, Sufi and Sikh traditions are discussed in comparison to Kevala Advaita.
Advaita's new avatar - Neo Advaita or New Vedanta - is seen as a natural outcome of the historical process. It is posited as the new age philosophy of monism - a spiritual metaphysics that complements science in its quest for Reality.
Binding: Paperback (Perfect Binding)
Availability: In Stock (Print on Demand)
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This note is supposed to be an introductory note; it however, offers a comprehensive and contemporary view of Vedanta. It is a 'four-pass construction' in which scriptures are surveyed to extract principles, methods, and criteria of Knowledge (pass-1); these criteria are applied to cull out significant scriptural passages (pass-2); and some of them are analyzed and illustrated to validate the 'central principle' (pass-3). These three passes are completed in first three chapters (0, 1, 2); while the fourth pass, which is historiographical, is covered in Chapter-5.
Chapter-3 explores “Ignorance” and introduces the main theories and sub-schools of Vedanta, namely Vartika, Bhamati, and Vivarana. These schools are treated as three approaches towards the 'central principle' rather than three competing schools. Theory of karma, rebirth, and mukti (liberation) are common to all Indic schools. These concepts are discussed in Chapter-4 in the context of some common objections to this theory.
Chapter-5 and 6 surveys the huge temporal canvass of Vedanta right from the prehistoric Harappa culture to the 20th century New Vedanta. Author rejects Aryan Invasion Theory (AIT) to propose a kind of acculturation / assimilation resulting in the composite Hindu-Vedic culture (HVC) and the Vedanta philosophy. He sees Advaita as a unifying thread that connects all Indic non-dualist traditions on the basis of their shared absolutist ontology, common yogic base, and common axiology. In the Chapter-6 on proactive (New) Vedanta, author elevates the scientific-platonic knowledge to higher level and recommends science as a 'process of discrimination'. In the concluding Chapter-7, Mahayana Buddhism is seen as one of the pillars of Advaita among other orthodox non-dualist Indic schools. The combination of Vedanta and Yoga is posited as the new age universal philosophy.
A comprehensive bibliography is provided in Chapter-8, and a detailed index of both general and Indo-Aryan / Sanskrit words is provided at the end. The book's formalist and constructive approach sets it apart from other books of Advaita Vedanta. It is a welcome and landmark addition to the ever growing list of books on Advaita and Indology.