Early Buddhism and the Bhagavadgita

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About the Book:

This is a critical and comparative philosophical analysis and assessment of the teachings of Buddha as found in the early stratum of the Pali Canon and those of Lord Krsna as embodied in the Bhagavadgita. It is for the first time that the foundational works of the two most important traditions of Indian thought have been brought together for comparative treatment.

The widely prevalent opinion among scholars that Hindu thought did not have any significant contact with Pali Buddhism, might perhaps be one of the reasons why no attempt has previously been made to undertake a comparative study of the Bhagavadgita and early Buddhism. The author, however, with no such preconceived notion, makes a thorough examination of the question bearing on the chronology and the sources of the Bhagavadgita and early Buddhism, and reaches a conclusion contrary to the prevalent opinion.

The author covers the whole field of epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics in detail and depth, and bases his conclusions throughout on the original texts, making careful examination of, and paying due attention, to the commentatorial exegeses and scholarly interpretations.

About the Author:

Kashi Nath Upadhyaya was Professor of Philosophy at the University of Hawaii. He received his M.A. in Philosophy from Patna University and Ph.D. from the University of Ceylon.

Besides many articles published in professional journals of India and America, he has also authored the book, Outlines of Indian Logic and Epistemology.

THE CHRONOLOGY OF THE BHAGAVADGITA

1. The Divergent Views of Scholars
2. The Need for an Analytic Approach
   1. Is the Gita a Genuine Constituent of the Mahabharata?
   2. Has the Gita Passed through Successive Stages of Additions and alternations?
   3. The Date of the Gita
      1. On the Basis of the Date of the Mahabharata
      2. On the Basis of Independent Evidences
      3. On the Basis of the Date of the Brahma-Sutra.
3. Conclusion

THE CHRONOLOGY OF EARLY BUDDHISM

1. Buddha as an Historical Person
2. The Date of Buddha
   1. Non-traditional View
   2. Traditional View
   3. Conclusion
3. Where to Look for the Original Tenets of Buddhism
4. The Chronology of the Pali Canon and the Nature of Buddhist Councils
   1. According to Tradition
   2. Review of the Traditional View
5. Conclusion

THE CHRONOLOGICAL RELATION BETWEEN THE BHAGAVADGITA AND THE NIKAYAS

THE SOURCES OF EARLY BUDDHISM

1. The Need for Inquiry into Pre-Buddhistic Tradition
2. The Pre-Vedic Stage
3. The Vedic and Brahmanical Stage
4. Upanisadic Stage
5. Religious Conditions of Buddha's Time
6. A Resume of the Development of the Thought Process
7. Conclusion
   1. The Alleged Influence of Jainism
   2. The Alleged Influence of the Sankhya
   3. The Alleged Influence of the Yoga
   4. The Alleged Influence of the Visnuite Krsnite Cult
   5. The Alleged Influence of the Upanisads
   6. The Influence of Buddha's Contemporaneous Thoughts

THE SOURCES OF THE BHAGAVADGITA

1. The Compromising Character of the Bhagavadgita
2. Elements of Ritualism
3. Elements of the Upanisads
4. Elements of Sankhya
5. Elements of Yoga
6. Elements of Buddhism
7. The Uniqueness of the Bhagavadgita and its Primary Source
8. Conclusion

THE CONVERGING AND DIVERGING LINES OF THE BHAGADGITA AND BUDDHISM

THE EPISTEMOLOGY OF THE BHAGAVADGITA AND EARLY BUDDHISM

1. General Introduction
   1. Epistemology as an Indispensable Basis of Philosophy
   2. Knowledge Commonly Emphasised by the B.G. and Early Buddhism
2. The Nature of Knowledge
   1. The Emphasis on Paranormal Knowledge
   2. Due recognition to Normal Knowledge
   3. Qualitative Difference Between Normal and Paranormal Knowledge.
   4. Reasons for the Superiority of Paranormal Knowledge.
   5. The Differences Between the B.G. and Buddhist Approach to Paranormal Knowledge.
3. The Process of Knowledge.
   1. The Buddhist Account of the Process of Knowledge.
   2. The Approach of the B.G. as Compared with that of Buddhism
4. The Sources of Knowledge
   1. Perception
   2. Interference
   3. The Role of Reason
   4. The Attitude to Authority
   5. The Role of Faith
5. The Limits of Knowledge
   1. Buddha's Answer to the Question of Omniscience
   2. The B.G. concept of Omniscience as Compared with that of Buddhism

THE METAPHYSICS OF THE BHAGAVADGITA AND EARLY BUDDHISM

1. Buddha's Approach to Metaphysics as Distinct From that of the Bhagavadgita
2. The Nature and Significance of Buddha's Silence
3. The Problem of the Self
   1. Some Basic Confusions about the Notion of the Self
   2. Buddha's Analytical Approach to the Problem
   3. The Conventional Use of the word, 'Atta'
   4. The B.G.'s Attempt to Highlight the Traditional View
   5. Points of Fundamental Difference Between the B.G. and Buddhism
4. The Problem of Salvation
   1. Nibbana as the Ultimate Goal of Holy Life
   2. The Etymological Significance of Nibbana
   3. Negative and Positive Descriptions of Nibbana and its Ineffability
   4. Some Basic Differences Between the Buddhist and the B.G. Approach to Nibbana
   5. The Realisation of Nibbana in One's Life Time
   6. The Life and Behaviour of the Liberated Saint
5. The Problem of Rebirth
   1. The Karmic Forces Responsible for the Recurrence of Rebirth
   2. The Ignorance and Desire Feeding the Karmic Forces
   3. A Comparative Account of the Mechanism of the Process of Rebirth
   4. The Psychic Body (Manomayam Kayam) of Buddhism and the Migrating Subtle Body (Suksma Sarira) of the B.G.
6. The Problem of the World
   1. The Extent of the Universe
   2. The Origin and Duration of the Universe
7. The Problem of God
   1. The Development of the Concept of Divinity in Pre-Buddhistic Indian Thought
   2. The Acceptance or Rejection of God by the B.G. and Buddhism in Various Senses
   3. A Polemic Between Buddhism and the B.G. in Relation to God.
   4. A Meeting Point Between Buddhism and the B.G.

THE ETHICS OF THE BHAGAVADGITA AND EARLY BUDDHISM

1. Ethics as the Basic Foundation of the Holy Life
2. The Basis of Ethics
3. The Summum Bonum of Life and the Major Ingredients of the Holy Pursuit
4. Buddhist and the B.G. Ideals of Holy Life as Compared with the Ethical Ideals of the West.
5. The Criterion of Morality
6. Unity versus Diversity of the Path
   1. Buddha's Advocacy for only one Holy Path
   2. Absolute Detachment as the Crux of the Buddhist Path
   3. Buddha's Exhortation for the Utmost Strictness
   4. The B.G. Technique of Compromise and Reconciliation
   5. The B.G.'s Preference for Active Worldly Life and the Consequent Slackening of the Rigour and Rigidity of Paths
   6. The Triple Path of the B.G. with Dis-interested Action as Its Central Core
   7. The Controversy Regarding the Supremacy of one or the Other Path
7. The Path of Action Versus the Path of Renunciation
8. The Problem of Caste
   1. The Biological Point of View
   2. The Sociological Point of View
   3. The Religious Point of View
   4. Conclusion
9. The Problem of War
   1. The war Looked form the Moral Point of View
   2. Is the B.G. Reference to War Allegorical?
   3. The Line of Argument Adopted by the B.G.
   4. The Problem of Freedom and Predestination
   5. The concept of Righteous War
   6. Buddhist Attitude Diametrically Opposed to that of The B.G.
   7. Conclusion

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Original Sources
   1. Sanskrit Texts and Translations
   2. Pali Texts and Translations
   3. Prakrit Texts and Translations
2. Secondary Authorities
   1. Reference Books
   2. Monographs
   3. Articles

INDEX