TY - BOOK AU - Upadhyaya, K.N. TI - Early Buddhism & the Bhagavadgita SN - 9788120808805 U1 - 294.3 PY - 2008/// CY - Delhi PB - MBP KW - Asian philosophies - Asian religions - Buddhism - Early Buddhism - Metaphysics - Ethics - Epistemology KW - Buddhism - Early Buddhism KW - Bhagavadgita N1 - 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 (SukĀ§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 ER -