The Seven Great Untenables

From the Jacket

The polemics between the Avaitins and the Visistadvaitins appears unending. Each school's exegesis claims to be the faithful explication of the 'true' meaning of the Sruti. This volume provides an exposition of the key-concept of avidya/maya s set forth by advaitins and as criticized by Visistadvaitins. In his Sri-bhasya, Ramanuja's 'Seven Great Untenables' (Sapta-vidha Anupapatti) provides the locus classicus for this polemic. Moreover, one could go so far as to claim that the various systems both enrich and inspire each other by mutual fecundity which emerges from their dialogue. The philosophical conflicts do not seem to affect their value as unique and valuable systems of thought.

About the Author

John Grimes received his Master's and Doctor of Philosophy from the Radha-krishnan Institute for Advanced Study in Philosophy at the University of Madras. His major area of specialization is Advaita Vedanta. Presently he is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.

Author of three books: A Concise Dictionary of Indian Philosophy (University of Madras, 1988 & SUNY, 1989); Quest for Certainty: A Comparative Study of Heidegger and Sankara (Land Press, NY, 1989); and Advaita Vedanta and the Problem of Religious Language. He has also contributed several articles and papers in various philosophical and religious periodicals and professional journals.

Contents:

Foreword

Scheme of Transliteration

Preface

Chapter One - INTRODUCTION
1. Introduction to the Vedantic Schools
2. Criticism of Advaita's Avidya by Other Thinkers
3. Historical Introduction
4. Philosophical Perspecitve
A. Distinction between standpoints and Levels of Reality
B. Distinction between two kinds of Metaphysics
C. Distinction between two kinds of Scripture
D. The role of Avidya

Chapter Two - THE LOCUS OF AVIDYA
1. Introduction
2. Asraya-Anupapatti 1
A. Objection 1
B. Reply 1
C. Objection 2
D. Objection 3
E. Reply 2
F. Objection 4
3. The Fallacy of Infinite Regress
4. Theory of Inexplicability
A. Reply 3
1. No reciprocal dependence
2. No infinite regress
3. No basic defect
5. Inexplicability
6. Asraya-Anupapatti 2
A. Objection 1
B. Reply 1
C. Objection 2
D. Reply 2
E. Objection 3
F. Reply 3
G. Objection 4
H. Reply 4
I. Objection 5
J. Reply 5
K. Objection 6
L. Reply 6

Chapter Three - THE UNTENABILITY OF OBSCURATION
1. Introduction
A. The Jiva
B. Isvara 1
C. Isvara 2
D. Brahman
E. Avidya
F. Adhyasa
2. Ramanuja's Tirodhana-Anupapatti
A. Objection
B. Reply
C. Objection 2
D. Reply 2
E. Objection 3
F. Reply 3
G. Objection 4
H. Reply 4

Chapter Four - THE UNTENABILITY OF AVIDYA'S NATURE
1. Introduction
A. Cognizability
B. Objection 1
C. Reply 1
2. Ramanuja's Svarupa-Anupapatti
A. Objection
B. Reply
3. Maya and Avidya

Chapter Five - THE UNTENABILITY OF INEXPLICABILITY
1. Introduction
2. Ramanuja's Anirvacaniya-Anupapatti
A. Post-Ramanuja Objection 1
B. Reply 1
C. Objection 1a
D. Reply 1a
E. Reply 1b
F. Objection 2
G. Reply 2

Chapter Six - IGNORANCE CANNOT BE POSITIVE
1. Introduction
2. Two Powers
3. Avidya as the cause of the world
A. Objection 1
B. Reply 1
C. Objection 2
D. Reply 2
E. Objection 3
F. Reply 3
4. Terminable
5. Different from prior non-existence
6. Perception
A. Ramanuja's objection 1
B. Reply 1
7. Inference
A. Ramanuja's objection 1
B. Reply 1
8. Scripture
A. Ramanuja's objection 1
B. Reply 1
9. Presumption
10. Conclusion

Chapter Seven - THE UNTENABILITY OF REMOVABILITY
1. Introduction
2. Ramanuja's Objection 1
A. Objection against perception
i. Advaita's reply
ii. Reply 2
iii. Reply 3
B. Objection against inference
i. Reply
C. Verbal Testimony
i. Argument 1
ii. Reply
iii. Argument 2
iv. Reply
D. Objection 2
i. Reply 2
E. Objection 3
i. Reply 3
F. Argument 3

Chapter Eight - IGNORANCE IS NOT REMOVED BY BRAHMAN KNOWLEDGE
A. Introduction
B. Objection 1
C. Objection 2
D. Reply
E. Objection 3
F. Reply

Chapter Nine - CONCLUSION
Bibliography
Index