In Search of Reality (A layman's journey through Indian Philosophy)
Book Specification
| Item Code: | IDE054 |
| Author: | O. N. Krishnan |
| Publisher: | MOTILAL BANARSIDASS PUBLISHERS PVT. LTD. |
| Language: | English |
| Edition: | 2004 |
| ISBN: | 8120820126 |
| Pages: | 464 |
| Cover: | Hardcover |
| Other Details | 8.6" X 5.5" |
Book Description
From the Jacket: CONTENTS
In Search of Reality makes a comparative analysis of the philosophical systems of the Upanisads, Advaita Vedanta and various schools of Buddhism in a comprehensive manner. It expounds the philosophical stand points of various Buddhist school and Advaita Vedanta of Gaudapada and Sankara.
About The Author:
O. N. Krishnan, an engineer by profession, is an avid student of Indian philosophy and is involved in the comparative studies of the Upanisads, Advaita Vedanta and Buddhism.
| List of Figures | xii | |
| Foreword | xiii | |
| Preface | xvii | |
| Acknowledgments | xx | |
| Abbreviations | xxi | |
| Introduction | 1 | |
VEDIC IDEAS | ||
| CHAPTERS | 7 | |
| 1. | Vedic Ideas | 7 |
| 1. Polytheism in the Vedas | 7 | |
| 2. Vedic Scriptures | 8 | |
| 3. Sacrificial Rituals | 10 | |
| 4. Varna Theory | 11 | |
| 5. Vedic Philosophy | 12 | |
| 6. Ultimate Goal | 16 | |
UPANISADS | ||
| 2. | Basic Ideas | 21 |
1. Rta at the Command of the Imperishable| 23 | |
|
| 2. Supremacy of Brahman-Parable in the Kena Upanisad | 23 | |
| 3. Divine Powers in the Universe and Individual Self | 24 | |
| 4. Supremacy of Prana and Prana as Prajnatma | 24 | |
| 5. The Five Vital Breaths | 28 | |
| 6. The Dual Principles and the One Brahman | 30 | |
| 7. Interdependency of Cosmic Universe and Individual Self | 31 | |
| 8. Progressive Definition of Brahman | 35 | |
| 9. Theories of Self(Atman) | 39 | |
| 3. | Theories on Origination of the Universe | 51 |
| 1. Creation from Non-Being (Asat) | 52 | |
| 2. Creation by God | 55 | |
| 3. Brahman-Parinamavada | 61 | |
| 4. From Gunas Arise the Universe | 67 | |
| 4. | Karma and Rebirth | 73 |
| 1. Evolution of the Ideas in the Upanisads | 73 | |
| 2. What Constitute the Transmigrating Self? | 78 | |
| 3. Underlying Principle Turning the Universe | 79 | |
| 5. | Theories on Brahman | 81 |
| 1. Five Sheaths of Brahman (Taittinya Upanisad) | 81 | |
| 2. Seven Levels of Reality (Katha Upanisad | 83 | |
| 3. The Three States of Consciousness | 89 | |
| 4. Brahman of Four Quarters (Mandukya Upanisad) | 95 | |
| 5. The Four Selves of Brahman (Paingala Upanisad) | 103 | |
| 6. Comparison of the Ideas in Mandukya and Paingala | 109 | |
| 7. The two Brahmans | 111 | |
| 8. The Radiant Supreme | 113 | |
| 9. Summary | 115 | |
| 6. | Liberation (Life Eternal) | 117 |
| 1. Ultimate Goal | 117 | |
| 2. Liberation in Samkhya Philosophy | 121 | |
| 3. Liberation in the Upanisads | 123 | |
| 4. Identification with Reality
|
129 | |
| 7. | Moral Preparation for Spiritual Life | 131 |
| 1. The Three Principal Virtues (B. U.) | 131 | |
| 2. Duties to be Performed (T. U.) | 132 | |
| 3. Final Teaching to the Departing Students (T. U.) | 133 | |
| 4. Oneness of Self - (Isa and Kaivalya) | 134 | |
| 8. | Path to Liberation (Life Eternal) | 135 |
| 1. Brhad-aranyaka Upanisad | 135 | |
| 2. Chandogya Upanisad | 135 | |
| 3. Katha Upanisad | 136 | |
| 4. Mundaka Upanisad | 141 | |
| 5. Maitri Upanisad | 142 | |
| 6. Paingala Upanisad (Chapter III & IV) | 145 | |
| 7. Subala Upanisads | 146 | |
| 8. Doctrine of Divine Grace | 147 | |
BUDDHISM | ||
| 9. | Early Buddhism | 151 |
| 1. The Buddha | 151 | |
| 2. Buddhist Scriptures | 162 | |
| 3. The Four Noble Truths | 165 | |
| 4. Meditative Practices | 195 | |
| 5. Theory of Anatta (No-Self) | 206 | |
| 6. Theory of Kamma | 211 | |
| 7. Nibbana | 230 | |
| 10. | Abhidhamma | 243 |
| 1. The Theravada Abhidhamma | 244 | |
| 2. The Sarvastivada (Realist School) | 246 | |
| 3. Sautrantika | 255 | |
| 11. | Prajnaparamita | 257 |
| 1. Revival of Anatman Teaching | 257 | |
| 2. Prajnaparamita Literatures | 258 | |
| 3. Perfection of Wisdom (Prajna) | 259 | |
| 4. Emptiness (Sunyata) | 259 | |
| 5. Knowledge of the Five Skandhas in Perfect Wisdom | 261 | |
| 6. Form is Emptiness and Emptiness itself is Form | 263 | |
| 7. Nirvana of No Fixed Adobe | 264 | |
| 8. The Six Perfections (Paramitas) | 265 | |
| 9. The Bodhisattva Ideal | 270 | |
| 12. | Madhyamaka | 273 |
| 1. Madhyamaka Literature | 273 | |
| 2. Emptiness of All Dharmas (Dharma-Nairatmya) | 273 | |
| 3. Truly Empty Hence Unfathomable Existence | 275 | |
| 4. Eight-fold Negation | 277 | |
| 5. Dependent Origination is also the Middle-Path | 279 | |
| 6. Dialectic of Nagarjuna | 281 | |
| 7. Two Fold Truth | 283 | |
| 8. Emptiness-Phychological Analysis | 286 | |
| 9. Samsara and Nirvana are Identical | 288 | |
| 13. | Yogacara | 289 |
| 1. Yogacara Literature | 290 | |
| 2. Yogacara Classification of Dharmas | 291 | |
| 3. Evolving of Consciousness (Vijnana-Pannama) | 293 | |
| 4. Three-nature (Trisvabhava) Theory | 295 | |
| 5. Turning Around of the Basis (Asarya Paravrth) | 298 | |
| 6. Three-Knowledges/Three-Truths | 299 | |
| 7. Emptiness in Yogacara School | 301 | |
| 8. Representation-Only (Vijnaptimatra) | 307 | |
| 9. Suchness | 309 | |
| 10. Cittamatra (Mind Only/Vijnanavada) | 311 | |
| 14. | Selflessness of Buddhism Vs. Self of Upanisads | 313 |
| 1. Self Vs. Selflessness | 313 | |
| 2. Isvara Vs. Dependent Origination | 315 | |
| 15. | Parths and Stages of Bodhisattva | 319 |
| 1. Five Paths | 319 | |
| 2. Ten Stages (Bhumis) of Bodhisattva | 320 | |
| 3. Bodhisattva Model and Seven Purification in Hinayana | 326 | |
| 4. How to Become a Buddha | 328 | |
EARLY ADVAITA VEDANTA | ||
| 16. | Gaudapadiya-Karika | 335 |
| 1. Creation Theories Rejected | 336 | |
| 2. Parinama Theories Refuted | 337 | |
| 3. Mayamatra | 340 | |
| 4. Analysis of Maya | 341 | |
| 5. Proof of Unreality-Equality of Walking and Dream States | 344 | |
| 6. No Objective Reference | 348 | |
| 7. Duality is Vibration of Consciousness | 349 | |
| 8. Atman is Like Space | 351 | |
| 9. Atman, The Non-Dual Self | 352 | |
| 10. Ajativada (Doctrine of Non-Origination) | 355 | |
| 11. Gk's Philosophy Compared with Buddhism | 357 | |
| 12. Asparsa-Yoga | 367 | |
| 13. Ultimate Goal | 371 | |
ADVAITA OF SANKARA | ||
| 17. | Advaita of Sankara | 375 |
| 1. Maya | 376 | |
| 2. Ignorance and Transmigratory Existence | 378 | |
| 3. Ignorance (Avidya) and Maya | 380 | |
| 4. Maya and Sunyata | 381 | |
| 5. Maya-Sakti (Isvara) | 386 | |
| 6. Unreality of Transmigratory Existence | 389 | |
| 7. Badha (Sublation) | 392 | |
| 8. The Four States of Experience and the One Consciousness | 394 | |
| 9. Atman (Brahman) - The Ultimate Reality | 396 | |
| 10. Ethics | 400 | |
ULTIMATE TRUTH | ||
| 18. | Ultimate Truth | 409 |
| 1. A Brief Review of the Philosophies | 409 | |
| 2. Essencelessness / Emptiness | 414 | |
| 3. PraxisThe Buddha | 417 | |
| 4. Tathagatagarbha | 419 | |
| Bibliography | 423 | |
| Index | 427 | |
