The Philosophy of the Brahma-sutra: An IntroductionThe Brahma-sutra, attributed to Badaraya (ca. 400 CE), is the canonical book of Vedanta, the philosophical tradition which became the doctrinal backbone of modern Hinduism. As an explanation of the Upanishads, it is principally concerned with the ideas of Brahman, the great ground of Being, and of the highest good. The Philosophy of the Brahma-sutra is the first introduction to concentrate on the text and its ideas, rather than its reception and interpretation in the different schools of Vedanta. Covering the epistemology, ontology, theory of causality and psychology of the Brahma-sutra, and its characteristic theodicy, it also: · Provides a comprehensive account of its doctrine of meditation · Elaborates on its nature and attainment, while carefully considering the wider religious context of Ancient India in which the work is situated · Draws the contours of Brahma-sutra's intellectual biography and reception history. By contextualizing the Brahma-sutra's teachings against the background of its main collocutors, it elucidates how the work gave rise to widely divergent ontologies and notions of practice. For both the undergraduate student and the specialist this is an illuminating and necessary introduction to one of Indian philosophy's most important works. |
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action agent argued argument associated attainment Bādarāyaṇa becomes beginning Bhāskara bliss body Brahma-sūtra Brahman called causality cause Chāndogya chapter characteristics claim cognition commentary commentators common consciousness context course created creation depends described desires discussed distinction divine doctrine effect elements embodiment essential nature evil fact final further gods heading idea identical illustration important individual soul inference instance intention interpretation Introduction karma kind knowledge known liberation light manifest manner material cause means meditation mentioned Mīmāṁsā Mīmāṁsā-sūtra nature objects omnipotence one’s ontological origin passages perception performed philosophy play possible practice present prime matter principle problem provides question Rāmānuja reading reason reference relationship remains residence respect result ritual Śaṅkara Sāṅkhya says scripture seen sense specific statement suffering sūtra theology things third tradition translation understanding universals Upaniṣads Vedānta Vedāntins Vedas Vedic whereas