Consciousness in Indian Philosophy

Timalsina, Sthaneshwar
Consciousness in Indian philosophy : the advaita doctrine of 'awareness only' / by Sthaneshwar Timalsina. - London : Routledge, 2009. - xxii, 179 S. - (Routledge Hindu studies series)
ISBN 978-0-415-77677-6 / 0-415-77677-5
£ 75,00

Beschreibung
This book focuses on the analysis of pure consciousness as found in Advaita Vedanta, one of the main schools of Indian philosophy. According to this tradition, reality is identified as Brahman, the world is considered illusory, and the individual self is identified with the absolute reality. Advaitins have various approaches to defend this argument, the central one being the doctrine of 'awareness only' (cinmatra). Following this stream of argument, what consciousness grasps immediately is consciousness itself, and the notions of subject and object arise due to ignorance. This doctrine categorically rejects the plurality of individual selves and the reality of objects of perception.
   Timalsina analyzes the nature of consciousness as understood in Advaita. He first explores the nature of reality and pure consciousness, and then moves on to analyze ignorance as propounded in Advaita. He then presents Advaita arguments against the definitions of 'object' of cognition found in various other schools of Indian philosophy. In this process, the positions of two rival philosophical schools of Advaita and Madhva Vedanta are explored in order to examine the exchange between these two schools. The final section of the book contrasts the Yogacara and Advaita understandings of consciousness. Written lucidly and clearly, this book reveals the depth and implications of Indian metaphysics and argument. It will be of interest to scholars of Indian philosophy and Religious Studies. [Verlagsinformation]

Inhalt
Preface. viii
Acknowledgements. x
Abbreviations. xii
Introduction. xv
PART 1: SAT
1. Establishment of 'Awareness Only'. 3
2. Svaprakāśatā (self-awareness). 16
3. Ekajīva: the doctrine of solitary Self-awareness. 34
4. Existence and Awareness. 50
PART 2: ANIRVACANĪYA
5. Avidyā. 63
PART 3: ASAT
6. A Critique of Difference. 85
7. A Critique of Object. 103
PART IV: COMPARISONS
8. Cinmātra and cittamātra: the Advaita critique of Yogācāra. 125
Notes. 143
Bibliography. 165
Indices. 174

Autor
STHANESHWAR TIMALSINA is Assistant Professor in the Department of Religious Studies, San Diego State University, US. His research interests include Tantric traditions, literary theory, and ritual studies. His first book, Seeing and Appearance, was published in 2006 by Shaker Verlag.

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