Early Buddhism & the Bhagavadgita/ K.N.Upadhyaya

THE CHRONOLOGY OF THE
BHAGAVADGlTA
1. The Divergent Views of Scholars
2. The Need for an Analytic Approach
(i) Is the Gita a Genuine Constituent of the
Mahabharata ?
(ii) Has the Gita Passed through Successive
Stages of Additions and alterations?
(iii) The Date of the Gita
(A) On the Basis of the Date of the
Mahabharata
(B) On the Basis of Independent Evi
dences
(G) On the Basis of the Date of the
Brahma-Sutra
THE CHRONOLOGY OF EARLY BUDDHISM
1. Buddha as an Historical Person
2. The Date of Buddha
(A) Non-traditional View
(B) Traditional View
(C) Conclusion
3. Where to Look for the Original Tenets of
Buddhism
4. The Chronology of the Pali Canon and the
Nature of Buddhist Councils
(A) According to Tradition
(B) Review of the Traditional View
5. Conclusion
THE CHRONOLOGICAL RELATION BET
WEEN THE BHAGAVADGlTA AND THE
NIKAYAS
CHAPTER 11
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. Upani^dic Stage
5. Religious Conditions of Buddha*s Time
6. A Resume of the Development of the Thought-
Process
7. Conclusion
(A) The Alleged Influence ofjainism
(B) The Alleged Influence of the Sahkhya
(C) The Alleged Influence of the Yoga
(D) The Alleged Influence of the Vijnuite-
Kfsmte Cult
(E) The Alleged Influence of the Upani?ads
(F) The Influence of Buddha's Contempora
neous Thoughts
THE SOURCES OF THE BHAGAVADGITA
1. The Compromising Character of the Bhagavadglta
2. Elements of Ritualism
3. Elements of the Upanisacls
4. Elements of Sfifikhya
5. Elements of Yoga
G. Elements of Buddhism
7. The Uniqueness of the Bhagavadglta and its
Primary Source
THE CONVERGING AND DIVERGING LINES
OF THE BHAGVADGItA AND BUDDHISM
CHAPTER III
THE EPISTEMOLOGY OF THE BHAGAVAD
GITA AND EARLY BUDDHISM
L General Introduction
(A) Epistemology as an Indispensable Basis
of Philosophy
(B) Knowledge Commonly Emphasised by
the B.G. and Early Buddhism
2. The Nature of Knowledge
(A) The Emphasis on Paranormal Knowledge
(B) Due recognition to Normal Knowledge
(G) Qualitative Difference Between Normal
and Paranormal Knowledge
(D) Reasons for the Superiority of Paranormal
Knowledge
(E) The Differences Between the B.G. and
Buddhist Approach to Paranormal
Knowledge
3. The Process of Knowledge
(A) The Buddhist Account of the Process of
Knowledge
(B) The Approach of the E.G. as Compared
with that of Buddhism
4. The Sources of Knowledge
(A) Perception
(B) Inference
(C) The Role of Reason
(D) The Attitude to Authority
(E) The Role of Faith
5. The Limits of Knowledge
(A) Buddha's Answer to the Question of
Omniscience
(B) The B.G. Concept of Omniscience as
Compared with that of Buddhism
CHAPTER IV
THE METAPHYSICS OF THE BHAGAVADGlTA
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
(A) Some Basic Confusions about the
Notion of the Self
(B) Buddha's Analytical Approach to the
Problem
(G) The Conventional Use of the Word,
'Atta'
(D) The B.G.'s Attempt to Highlight the
Traditional View
(E) Points of Fundamental Difference Between
the B.G. and Buddhism
4. The Problem of Salvation
(A) Nibbana as the Ultimate Goal of Holy
Life
(B) The Etymological Significance of Nibbana
(G) Negative and Positive Descriptions of
Nibbana and its Ineffability
(D) Some Basic Differences Between the
Buddhist and the B.G. Approach to
Nibbana
(E) The Realisation of Nibbana in One's
Life Time
(F) The Life and Behaviour of the Liberated
Saint
5. The Problem of Rebirth
(A) The Karmic Forces Responsible for the
Recurrence of Rebirth
(B) The Ignorance and Desire Feeding the
Karmic Forces
(C) A Comparative Account of the Mecha
nism of the Process of Rebirth
(D) The Psychic Body(Manomayam Kayam)
of Buddhism and the Migrating Subtle
Body (Suk§ma Sarira) of the B.G.
6. The Problem of the World
(A) The Extent of the Universe
(B) The Origin and Duration of the Uni
verse
7. The Problem of God
(A) The Development of the Concept of
Divinity in Pre-Buddhistic Indian Thought
(B) The Acceptance or Rejection of God by
the B.G. and Buddhism in Various Senses
(C) A Polemic Between Buddhism and
the B.G. in Relation to God.
(D) A Meeting Point Between Buddhism and
the B.G.
CHAPTER V
THE ETHICS OE THE BHAGAVADGITA
AND EARLY BUDDHISM
1. Ethics as (he Basic Foundation of the Holy
Life
2. Tlie 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
(A) Buddha's Advocacy for only one Holy
Path
(B) Absolute Detachment as the Crux of the
Buddhist Path
(C) Buddha's Exhortation for the Utmost
Strictness
(D) The B.G. Technique of Compromise and
Reconciliation
(E) The B.G.'s Preference for Active Worldy
Life and the Consequent Slackening of
the Rigour and Rigidity of Paths
(F) The Triple Path of the B.G. with Dis
interested Action as Its Central Core
(G) The Controversy Regarding the Supre
macy of one or the Other path
7. The Path of Action Versus the Path of
Renunciation
8. The Problem of Caste
(A) The Biological Point of View
(B) The Sociological Point of View
(G) The Religious Point of View
(D) Conclusion
9. The Problem of War
(A) The war Looked form the Moral Point
of View
(B) Is the B.G. Refcrciice to War Allegorical?
(C) The Line of Argument Adopted by the
B.G.
(D) The Problem of Freedom and Predes
tination
(E) The Concept of Righteous War
(F) Buddhist Attitude Diametrically Opposed
to that of The B.G.
(G) Conclusion