An Understanding of Maya: the Philosophies of Sankara, Ramanuja and Madhva

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

An Understanding of Maya: the Philosophies of Sankara, Ramanuja and Madhva An understanding of Maya: The philosophies of Sankara, Ramanuja and Madhva Department of Religion studies Theology University of Pretoria By: John Whitehead 12083802 Supervisor: Dr M Sukdaven 2019 Declaration Declaration of Plagiarism 1. I understand what plagiarism means and I am aware of the university’s policy in this regard. 2. I declare that this Dissertation is my own work. 3. I did not make use of another student’s previous work and I submit this as my own words. 4. I did not allow anyone to copy this work with the intention of presenting it as their own work. I, John Derrick Whitehead hereby declare that the following Dissertation is my own work and that I duly recognized and listed all sources for this study. Date: 3 December 2019 Student number: u12083802 __________________________ 2 Foreword I started my MTh and was unsure of a topic to cover. I knew that Hinduism was the religion I was interested in. Dr. Sukdaven suggested that I embark on the study of the concept of Maya. Although this concept provided a challenge for me and my faith, I wish to thank Dr. Sukdaven for giving me the opportunity to cover such a deep philosophical concept in Hinduism. This concept Maya is deeper than one expects and has broaden and enlightened my mind. Even though this was a difficult theme to cover it did however, give me a clearer understanding of how the world is seen in Hinduism. 3 List of Abbreviations AD Anno Domini BC Before Christ BCE Before Common Era BS Brahmasutra Upanishad BSB Brahmasutra Upanishad with commentary of Sankara BU Brhadaranyaka Upanishad with commentary of Sankara CE Common Era EW Emperical World GB Gitabhasya of Shankara GK Gaudapada Karikas Rg Rig Veda SBH Sribhasya of Ramanuja Svet. U Svetasvatara Upanishad Ved.Sang Vedartha Samgraha 4 Table of Contents Declaration................................................................................................................... 2 Foreword...................................................................................................................... 3 List of Abbreviations.................................................................................................... 4 Table of Contents........................................................................................................ 5 Chapter 1..................................................................................................................... 9 Introduction.................................................................................................................. 9 1.1 Background of the study.................................................................................... 9 1.2 Problem statement........................................................................................... 11 1.3 The purpose of this study................................................................................. 11 1.4 The research hypothesis.................................................................................. 12 1.5 Methodology .................................................................................................... 12 1.6 Proposed contribution...................................................................................... 13 1.7 Structure........................................................................................................... 13 Chapter 2................................................................................................................... 15 The emergence of the Upanishads and its references to Maya................................ 15 2.1 Introduction...................................................................................................... 15 2.2 The development of the Upanishads............................................................... 16 2.3 Date and authorship......................................................................................... 16 2.4 Brahman and Atman in the Upanishads.......................................................... 20 2.5 The concept of Maya in the Upanishads.......................................................... 22 2.6 Schools of Vedanta.......................................................................................... 26 2.6.1 Advaita Vedanta........................................................................................ 27 2.6.2 Vishishtadvaita.......................................................................................... 27 2.6.3 Dvaita........................................................................................................ 28 2.7 Conclusion....................................................................................................... 28 Chapter 3................................................................................................................... 30 5 Sankara and his philosophy of Maya......................................................................... 30 3.1 Introduction...................................................................................................... 30 3.2 Date of birth, life and influences of Sankara.................................................... 30 3.2.1 Date of birth............................................................................................... 30 3.2.2 Influencers of Sankara's thought and those who were influenced............ 33 3.2.3 Works of Sankara...................................................................................... 37 3.3 Advaita Vedanta according to Sankara............................................................ 39 3.3.1 Brahman and Atman ................................................................................. 41 3.3.2 Understanding knowledge according to Sankara...................................... 42 3.4 Maya as understood by Sankara..................................................................... 43 3.4.1 Brahman and Maya in Sankara's philosophy............................................ 46 3.5 Conclusion....................................................................................................... 49 Chapter 4................................................................................................................... 50 Ramanuja and his philosophy of Maya...................................................................... 50 4.1 Introduction...................................................................................................... 50 4.2 Life and influences of Ramanuja...................................................................... 50 4.2.1 Influences of Ramanuja's life and those who were influenced.................. 51 4.2.2 Works of Ramanuja................................................................................... 56 4.3 Vishishtadvaita according to Ramanuja........................................................... 56 4.3.1 Brahman and Atman ................................................................................. 57 4.3.2 Understanding knowledge according to Ramanuja................................... 60 4.4 Maya as understood by Ramanuja.................................................................. 62 4.5 Conclusion....................................................................................................... 64 Chapter 5................................................................................................................... 66 Madvha...................................................................................................................... 66 5.1 Introduction...................................................................................................... 66 6 5.2 Life and influences of Madhva......................................................................... 66 5.2.1 Influencers of Madhva's thought and those who were influenced............. 68 5.2.2 Works of Madhva....................................................................................... 70 5.3 Dvaita according to Madvha ............................................................................ 72 5.3.1 Brahman and Atman ................................................................................. 73 5.4 Maya as understood by Madhva...................................................................... 74 5.5 Conclusion....................................................................................................... 76 Chapter 6................................................................................................................... 78 Central understanding of Maya ................................................................................. 78 6.1 Introduction...................................................................................................... 78 6.2 The general understanding of Maya................................................................ 78 6.3 The Vedas........................................................................................................ 78 6.4 The Upanishads understanding of Maya......................................................... 81 6.4.1 Similarities between Advaita, Vishishtadvaita and Dvaita......................... 83 6.5 Sankara’s understanding of Maya ................................................................... 84 6.6 Ramanuja’s understanding of Maya ................................................................ 86 6.6.1 Ramanuja's critique on Maya.................................................................... 88 6.7 Madvha’s understanding of
Recommended publications
  • ADVAITA-SAADHANAA (Kanchi Maha-Swamigal's Discourses)
    ADVAITA-SAADHANAA (Kanchi Maha-Swamigal’s Discourses) Acknowledgement of Source Material: Ra. Ganapthy’s ‘Deivathin Kural’ (Vol.6) in Tamil published by Vanathi Publishers, 4th edn. 1998 URL of Tamil Original: http://www.kamakoti.org/tamil/dk6-74.htm to http://www.kamakoti.org/tamil/dk6-141.htm English rendering : V. Krishnamurthy 2006 CONTENTS 1. Essence of the philosophical schools......................................................................... 1 2. Advaita is different from all these. ............................................................................. 2 3. Appears to be easy – but really, difficult .................................................................... 3 4. Moksha is by Grace of God ....................................................................................... 5 5. Takes time but effort has to be started........................................................................ 7 8. ShraddhA (Faith) Necessary..................................................................................... 12 9. Eligibility for Aatma-SAdhanA................................................................................ 14 10. Apex of Saadhanaa is only for the sannyAsi !........................................................ 17 11. Why then tell others,what is suitable only for Sannyaasis?.................................... 21 12. Two different paths for two different aspirants ...................................................... 21 13. Reason for telling every one ..................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 9. Brahman, Separate from the Jagat
    Chapter 9: Brahman, Separate from the Jagat ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Question 1: Why does a human being see only towards the external vishayas? ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Answer: Katha Upanishad states in 2.1.1 that Paramatma has carved out the indriyas only outwards and ​ ​ therefore human beings see only towards external vishayas. ​परािच खान यतणृ वयभूतमापरा पयत नातरामन .् Question 2: What is the meaning of Visheshana? What are the two types of Visheshanas of Brahman? ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Answer: That guna of an object which separates it from other objects of same jati (=category) is known as ​ ​ Visheshana. For example, the ‘blue color’ is guna of blue lotus. This blue color separates this blue lotus from all other lotuses (lotus is a jati). Therefore, blue color is a Visheshana. The hanging hide of a cow separates it from all four-legged animals. Thus, this hanging hide is a Visheshana of cow among the jati of four-legged animals. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The two types of Visheshanas of Brahman which are mentioned in Shruti are as follows:- ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Bhava-roopa Visheshana (Those Visheshanas which have existence) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Abhava-roopa Visheshana (Those Visheshanas which do not exist) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Question 3: Describe the bhava-roopa Visheshanas of Brahman? ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Answer: Visheshana refers to that guna of object which separates it from all other objects of same jati. Now jati ​ ​ of human beings is same as that of Brahman. Here, by Brahman, Ishvara is meant who is the nimitta karan of jagat. Both human being as well as Brahman (=Ishvara) has jnana and hence both are of same jati. However, there is great difference between both of them and thus Brahman (=Ishvara) is separated due to the following bhava-roopa Visheshanas:- ​ ​ ● Human beings have limited power, but Brahman is omnipotent.
    [Show full text]
  • The Aruni (Aruneyi) Upanishad Translated by Swami Madhavananda - Published by Advaita Ashram, Kolkatta
    The Aruni (Aruneyi) Upanishad Translated by Swami Madhavananda - Published by Advaita Ashram, Kolkatta Om ! Let my limbs and speech, Prana, eyes, ears, vitality And all the senses grow in strength. All existence is the Brahman of the Upanishads. May I never deny Brahman, nor Brahman deny me. Let there be no denial at all: Let there be no denial at least from me. May the virtues that are proclaimed in the Upanishads be in me, Who am devoted to the Atman; may they reside in me. Om ! Let there be Peace in me ! Let there be Peace in my environment ! Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me ! ’ 1. Om. Aruna s son went to the sphere of Brahma, the Creator, and reaching there “ ” said, Lord, in what way can I relinquish work altogether ? Brahma said to him: You must give up your sons, brothers, friends, and the rest, your hair-tuft and the holy thread, your sacrifices and books regulating them, your scriptures; must give up the (seven upper) spheres entitled Bhur, Bhuvar, Svar, Mahar, Jana, Tapas, and Satya, and the (seven nether) spheres, viz., Atala, Patala, Vitala, Sutala, Rasatala, Talatala and Mahatala, together with the (whole) universe; and must take on the staff and the scanty clothing of the Sannyasin; you must renounce everything else, aye, everything else. 2. The householder, or the Brahmachari, or the Vanaprashta should commit the fires that lead to the different spheres to the fire that is in the stomach, and consign the sacred Mantra, Gayatri, to the fire that is in his own speech, should throw the holy ’ thread on the ground or into water.
    [Show full text]
  • Neuroscience of the Yogic Theory of Mind and Consciousness
    1 Neuroscience of the Yogic Theory of 2 Mind and Consciousness 3 Vaibhav Tripathi1* and Pallavi Bharadwaj2 *For correspondence: [email protected] (VT) 4 1Boston University; 2Massachusetts Institute of Technology † Present address: Department of 5 Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, ‡ USA 02215; Laboratory for 6 Abstract Yoga as a practice and philosophy of life has been followed for more than 4500 years Information and Decision Systems, 7 Massachusetts Institute of with known evidence of Yogic practices in the Indus Valley Civilization. A plethora of scholars have Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139 8 contributed to the development of the field, but in last century the profound knowledge 9 remained inaccessible and incomprehensible to the general public. Last few decades have seen a 10 resurgence in the utility of Yoga and Meditation as a practice with growing scientific evidence 11 behind it. Significant scientific literature has been published, illustrating the benefits of Yogic 12 practices including asana, pranayama and dhyana on mental and physical well being. 13 Electrophysiological and recent functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) studies have 14 found explicit neural signatures for Yogic practices. In this article, we present a review of the 15 philosophy of Yoga, based on the dualistic Sankhya school, as applied to consciousness 16 summarized by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras followed by discussion on the five vritti (modulations 17 of mind), practice of pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, different states of samadhi, and samapatti. We 18 introduce Yogic Theory of Mind and Consciousness (YTMC), a cohesive theory that can model 19 both external modulations and internal states of the mind.
    [Show full text]
  • Indian Philosophy Encyclopædia Britannica Article
    Indian philosophy Encyclopædia Britannica Article Indian philosophy the systems of thought and reflection that were developed by the civilizations of the Indian subcontinent. They include both orthodox (astika) systems, namely, the Nyaya, Vaisesika, Samkhya, Yoga, Purva-mimamsa, and Vedanta schools of philosophy, and unorthodox (nastika) systems, such as Buddhism and Jainism. Indian thought has been concerned with various philosophical problems, significant among them the nature of the world (cosmology), the nature of reality (metaphysics), logic, the nature of knowledge (epistemology), ethics, and religion. General considerations Significance of Indian philosophies in the history of philosophy In relation to Western philosophical thought, Indian philosophy offers both surprising points of affinity and illuminating differences. The differences highlight certain fundamentally new questions that the Indian philosophers asked. The similarities reveal that, even when philosophers in India and the West were grappling with the same problems and sometimes even suggesting similar theories, Indian thinkers were advancing novel formulations and argumentations. Problems that the Indian philosophers raised for consideration, but that their Western counterparts never did, include such matters as the origin (utpatti) and apprehension (jñapti) of truth (pramanya). Problems that the Indian philosophers for the most part ignored but that helped shape Western philosophy include the question of whether knowledge arises from experience or from reason and distinctions such as that between analytic and synthetic judgments or between contingent and necessary truths. Indian thought, therefore, provides the historian of Western philosophy with a point of view that may supplement that gained from Western thought. A study of Indian thought, then, reveals certain inadequacies of Western philosophical thought and makes clear that some concepts and distinctions may not be as inevitable as they may otherwise seem.
    [Show full text]
  • 21. Ramanuja Nutrandhadhi
    AmudhanAr’s IrAmAnusa nUtranthAthi Annotated Commentary in English By: "sampradAya prachAra dhurantharar" SrIrangam SrI V. MAdhavakkaNNan Our Sincere Thanks to the following for their contributions to this ebook: Images contribution: Ramanuja Dasargal at www.pbase.com/svami Neduntheru Sri Mukund Srinivasan eBook assembly: sadagopan.org Smt. Kala Lakshminarayanan CONTENTS TITLE PAGE Introduction 1 Paasuram 1 3 Paasuram 2 7 Paasuram 3 10 Paasuram 4 13 Paasuram 5 15 Paasuram 6 17 Paasuram 7 19 Paasuram 8 25 Paasuram 9 28 sadagopan.org Paasuram 10 30 Paasuram 11 33 Paasuram 12 38 Paasuram 13 42 Paasuram 14 45 Paasuram 15 51 Paasuram 16 52 Paasuram 17 57 Paasuram 18 59 Paasuram 19 62 Paasuram 20 65 Paasuram 21 68 Paasuram 22 71 Paasuram 23 74 Paasuram 24 76 Paasuram 25 78 Paasuram 26 81 Paasuram 27 83 CONTENTS CONT’D. TITLE PAGE Paasuram 28 85 Paasuram 29 88 Paasuram 30 90 Paasuram 31 93 Paasuram 32 95 Paasuram 33 97 Paasuram 34 100 Paasuram 35 102 Paasuram 36 105 Paasuram 37 109 Paasuram 38 112 Paasuram 39 115 Paasuram 40 117 Paasuram 41 122 sadagopan.org Paasuram 42 125 Paasuram 43 128 Paasuram 44 134 Paasuram 45 137 Paasuram 46 139 Paasuram 47 144 Paasuram 48 147 Paasuram 49 150 Paasuram 50 153 Paasuram 51 156 Paasuram 52 160 Paasuram 53 162 Paasuram 54 165 CONTENTS CONT’D. TITLE PAGE Paasuram 55 168 Paasuram 56 171 Paasuram 57 174 Paasuram 58 177 Paasuram 59 181 Paasuram 60 184 Paasuram 61 186 Paasuram 62 189 Paasuram 63 192 sadagopan.org Paasuram 64 194 Paasuram 65 197 Paasuram 66 200 Paasuram 67 203 Paasuram 68 207 Paasuram 69 210 Paasuram
    [Show full text]
  • Cows, Elephants, Dogs, and Other Lesser Embodiments Ofatman Reflections on Hindu Attitudes Toward Nonhuman Animals
    .?-­ Cows, Elephants, Dogs, and Other Lesser Embodiments ofAtman Reflections on Hindu Attitudes Toward Nonhuman Animals LANCE NELSON The wise see the same [reality] in a Brahmin endowed with learn­ ing and culture, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and an outcaste. - Bhagavad Gita 5-18 The Deccan Herald of January 25, 1999, reports lessly and unharmed in the lap ofone astonished that, a few days earlier, in the town of Shakara­ member of the audience after another. When puram near the South Indian city of Bangalore, the function was over, it departed. The human a group ofdevotees gathered to hear a talk on the participants were most impressed. Surely, it was Bhagavad GFta by a famous scholar, Bannanje concluded, this was a visit from Hanuman, the Govindacharya. He was visiting from Udipi, a famed monkey god and hero of the Ramaya1Ja, Vai~t:lava pilgrimage center of great sanctiry. As who-in addition to being famed for his un­ part of the function, the pa1J4it's new Kanada matched prowess in battle-is known for his translation of the much-loved Hindu epic the perfect mastery of Sanskrit grammar.! Was he Riimaya1Ja was being formally released to the there to scrutinize the new version of the story public. As Govindacharya alighted from his ve­ in which he figures so prominently, and to sig­ hicle, proceeded into the hall, and ascended the nal his approval? As a ciraiijivi-a "long-lived" stage, an adult monkey followed dose behind. one, a near immortal-Hanuman is believed The organizers tried to shoo the monkey off the to appear wherever the Riimiiya1Ja is being read platform, but it refused to budge, so they de­ and honored.
    [Show full text]
  • Issues in Indian Philosophy and Its History
    4 ISSUESININDIAN PHILOSOPHY AND ITS HISTORY 4.1 DOXOGRAPHY AND CATEGORIZATION Gerdi Gerschheimer Les Six doctrines de spéculation (ṣaṭtarkī) Sur la catégorisation variable des systèmes philosophiques dans lInde classique* ayam eva tarkasyālaņkāro yad apratişţhitatvaņ nāma (Śaģkaraad Brahmasūtra II.1.11, cité par W. Halbfass, India and Europe, p. 280) Les sixaines de darśana During the last centuries, the six-fold group of Vaiśeşika, Nyāya, Sāņkhya, Yoga, Mīmāņ- sā, and Vedānta ( ) hasgained increasing recognition in presentations of Indian philosophy, and this scheme of the systems is generally accepted today.1 Cest en effet cette liste de sys- tèmes philosophiques (darśana) quévoque le plus souvent, pour lindianiste, le terme şađ- darśana. Il est cependant bien connu, également, que le regroupement sous cette étiquette de ces six systèmes brahmaniques orthodoxes est relativement récent, sans doute postérieur au XIIe siècle;2 un survol de la littérature doxographique sanskrite fait apparaître quil nest du reste pas le plus fréquent parmi les configurations censées comprendre lensemble des sys- tèmes.3 La plupart des doxographies incluent en effet des descriptions des trois grands sys- tèmes non brahmaniques, cest-à-dire le matérialisme,4 le bouddhisme et le jaïnisme. Le Yoga en tant que tel et le Vedānta,par contre, sont souvent absents de la liste des systèmes, en particulier avant les XIIIe-XIVe siècles. Il nen reste pas moins que les darśana sont souvent considérés comme étant au nombre de six, quelle quen soit la liste. La prégnance de cette association, qui apparaît dès la première doxographie, le fameux Şađdarśanasamuccaya (Compendium des six systèmes) du jaina Haribhadra (VIIIe s.
    [Show full text]
  • Upanishad Vahinis
    Upanishad Vahini Stream of The Upanishads SATHYA SAI BABA Contents Upanishad Vahini 7 DEAR READER! 8 Preface for this Edition 9 Chapter I. The Upanishads 10 Study the Upanishads for higher spiritual wisdom 10 Develop purity of consciousness, moral awareness, and spiritual discrimination 11 Upanishads are the whisperings of God 11 God is the prophet of the universal spirituality of the Upanishads 13 Chapter II. Isavasya Upanishad 14 The spread of the Vedic wisdom 14 Renunciation is the pathway to liberation 14 Work without the desire for its fruits 15 See the Supreme Self in all beings and all beings in the Self 15 Renunciation leads to self-realization 16 To escape the cycle of birth-death, contemplate on Cosmic Divinity 16 Chapter III. Katha Upanishad 17 Nachiketas seeks everlasting Self-knowledge 17 Yama teaches Nachiketas the Atmic wisdom 18 The highest truth can be realised by all 18 The Atma is beyond the senses 18 Cut the tree of worldly illusion 19 The secret: learn and practise the singular Omkara 20 Chapter IV. Mundaka Upanishad 21 The transcendent and immanent aspects of Supreme Reality 21 Brahman is both the material and the instrumental cause of the world 21 Perform individual duties as well as public service activities 22 Om is the arrow and Brahman the target 22 Brahman is beyond rituals or asceticism 23 Chapter V. Mandukya Upanishad 24 The waking, dream, and sleep states are appearances imposed on the Atma 24 Transcend the mind and senses: Thuriya 24 AUM is the symbol of the Supreme Atmic Principle 24 Brahman is the cause of all causes, never an effect 25 Non-dualism is the Highest Truth 25 Attain the no-mind state with non-attachment and discrimination 26 Transcend all agitations and attachments 26 Cause-effect nexus is delusory ignorance 26 Transcend pulsating consciousness, which is the cause of creation 27 Chapter VI.
    [Show full text]
  • Secondary Indian Culture and Heritage
    Culture: An Introduction MODULE - I Understanding Culture Notes 1 CULTURE: AN INTRODUCTION he English word ‘Culture’ is derived from the Latin term ‘cult or cultus’ meaning tilling, or cultivating or refining and worship. In sum it means cultivating and refining Ta thing to such an extent that its end product evokes our admiration and respect. This is practically the same as ‘Sanskriti’ of the Sanskrit language. The term ‘Sanskriti’ has been derived from the root ‘Kri (to do) of Sanskrit language. Three words came from this root ‘Kri; prakriti’ (basic matter or condition), ‘Sanskriti’ (refined matter or condition) and ‘vikriti’ (modified or decayed matter or condition) when ‘prakriti’ or a raw material is refined it becomes ‘Sanskriti’ and when broken or damaged it becomes ‘vikriti’. OBJECTIVES After studying this lesson you will be able to: understand the concept and meaning of culture; establish the relationship between culture and civilization; Establish the link between culture and heritage; discuss the role and impact of culture in human life. 1.1 CONCEPT OF CULTURE Culture is a way of life. The food you eat, the clothes you wear, the language you speak in and the God you worship all are aspects of culture. In very simple terms, we can say that culture is the embodiment of the way in which we think and do things. It is also the things Indian Culture and Heritage Secondary Course 1 MODULE - I Culture: An Introduction Understanding Culture that we have inherited as members of society. All the achievements of human beings as members of social groups can be called culture.
    [Show full text]
  • The Essential Vedanta: a New Source Book of Advaita Vedanta
    Religion/Hinduism Deutsch & Dalvi “[This book] is overall an excellent collection of Advaita philosophic litera- ture, much of it quite inaccessible in translation (even some of the extant translations are now difficult to obtain), and ought to be in the library of The Essential everyone interested in the study of Indian philosophy.” The Essential —Richard Brooks, in Philosophy East and West Vedanta “The publication of this book is an event of the greatest significance for everybody who is interested in the history of philosophy, and of Indian philosophy in particular, due to at least three reasons. First, Advaita Vedānta Vedanta more than any other school represents the peculiarity of Indian thought, so much so that it is often identified with Indian philosophy. Second, the interplay between Vedānta and other Indian philosophical schools and A New Source Book of religious traditions presents to the readers, in the long run, practically a vast panorama of Indian thought and spirituality. Third, the richness of Vedānta Advaita Vedanta sources included in the book, masterly combined with a philosophical reconstruction made by Eliot Deutsch, one of the most respected contem- porary authorities both in Vedānta and comparative philosophy.” —Marietta Stepaniants, Director, Institute of Oriental Philosophy, Russian Academy of Sciences “The learned editors deserve congratulations for providing us with a complete picture of the origin and the development of Advaita Vedānta in historical perspective from its inception in the Vedic texts. It is a well conceived and well executed anthology of Vedānta philosophy from the original texts, rich in content, most representative and complete in all respects.” —Deba Brata SenSharma, Ex-Director, Institute of Sanskrit and Indological Studies, Kurukshetra University “This volume is a significant contribution, and is a great aid to the study of Advaita Vedānta from its primary source material.
    [Show full text]
  • 28Th Mahasamadhi Camp (2021) Yagna Prasad Pustika
    28th Chinmaya Mahasamadhi Aradhana Camp Live Life with a Mission -with a Vision Universal Prayer O Adorable Lord of Mercy and Love! Salutations and prostrations unto Thee. Thou art Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient. Thou art Sat-Chid-Ananda. Thou art Existence, Knowledge and Bliss Absolute. Thou art the Indweller of all beings. Grant us an understanding heart, Equal vision, balanced mind, Faith, devotion and wisdom. Grant us inner spiritual strength To resist temptation and to control the mind. Free us from egoism, lust, anger, greed, hatred and jealousy. Fill our hearts with divine virtues. Let us behold Thee in all these names and forms. Let us serve Thee in all these names and forms. Let us ever remember Thee. Let us ever sing Thy glories. Let Thy Name be ever on our lips. Let us abide in Thee for ever and ever. Swami Sivananda 1 Clarity in vision, chastity in expression, and purity of action are sure signs of spiritual progress Swami Chinmayananda 2 Towards 2021 A.D, 28th Mahasamadhi Aradhana Camp, this souvenir is an offering of love and devotion from Chinmaya Mission San Jose to Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda 3 FOREWORD: PUJYA GURUJI ........................................................................... 5 PREFACE: SWAMI SWAROOPANANDA ........................................................... 7 VEDANTIC VISION: MAHAVAKYAS .................................................................. 8 VISION FROM OUR GURU PARAMPARA ....................................................... 11 ĀDI SHANKARĀCHĀRYA: RE-ESTABLISHING ADVAITA
    [Show full text]