The Character of the Self in Ancient India: Priests, Kings, and Women in the Early UpaniṣadsThis groundbreaking book is an elegant exploration of the Upanisads, often considered the fountainhead of the rich, varied philosophical tradition in India. The Upaniṣads, in addition to their philosophical content, have a number of sections that contain narratives and dialogues—a literary dimension largely ignored by the Indian philosophical tradition, as well as by modern scholars. Brian Black draws attention to these literary elements and demonstrates that they are fundamental to understanding the philosophical claims of the text. Focusing on the Upanisadic notion of the self (ātman), the book is organized into four main sections that feature a lesson taught by a brahmin teacher to a brahmin student, debates between brahmins, discussions between brahmins and kings, and conversations between brahmins and women. These dialogical situations feature dramatic elements that bring attention to both the participants and the social contexts of Upanisadic philosophy, characterizing philosophy as something achieved through discussion and debate. In addition to making a number of innovative arguments, the author also guides the reader through these profound and engaging texts, offering ways of reading the Upaniṣads that make them more understandable and accessible. |
Contents
| 1 | |
The Emergence of Teaching as an Object of Discourse | 29 |
The Competitive Dynamics of the Brahmodya | 59 |
The Political Dimensions of the Upaniƒads | 101 |
Subjectivity and Gender Construction in the Upanisads | 133 |
Conclusion | 169 |
Other editions - View all
The Character of the Self in Ancient India: Priests, Kings, and Women in the ... Brian Black No preview available - 2008 |
The Character of the Self in Ancient India: Priests, Kings, and Women in the ... Brian Black No preview available - 2007 |
Common terms and phrases
Additionally agnicayana agnihotra Aitareya Ajåtaßatru appears asks ātman authority B®hadåra£yaka Upaniƒad Bodewitz body brahmacårin brahmins and kings brahmodya Brhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad challenge Chåndogya Upaniƒad chapter claims connected context cows death depicted described Despite discourse discussion early Upani∑ads early Upaniṣads emphasize episodes example explicitly father female characters five fires gandharva Gårg Gārgī gveda head shattering household Íatapatha Bråhma£a important Indra initiation instruction Ívetaketu Jabālā Jaiminīya Brāhmaņa Janaka Janaka's court kāma Kauƒ¥taki Upaniƒad kƒatriya knowl knowledge kṣatriya Kuru-Pañcāla literary Maitrey Maitreyī male means myth Naciketas Nårada narrative number of teachings offering Olivelle one’s opponents passage philosophical political prå£a prå£ås Prajåpati Pravåhaˆa Pravāhaņa presented priests procreation puruƒa question ritual sacrifice Śākalya Śāndilya Śatapatha Brāhmaņa Satyakåma sexual similar social soteriological specific story suggests teachers and students texts throughout tion traditional Uddālaka Āruņi Uddålaka ruˆi upanayana Upani∑ads Upanishadic teachings Vedas Vedic literature Videha Virocana wife Witzel women Yājñavalkya Yama
References to this book
The Concealed Art of the Soul:Theories of Self and Practices of Truth in ... Jonardon Ganeri No preview available - 2007 |