Religion W4620. Nonduality in Indian and Tibetan Thought

Columbia University, Fall 2002

Tuesday, October 15
Early Vedanta: Gaudapada and Bhartrihari

Assigned Reading

• S. Hamilton, Indian Philosophy, Chapter 8 ("The Word and the Book: Bhartrhari, Mimamsa, and Vedanta," pp. 118-135).
• On Bhartrhari and the Grammarian Philosophers:
  • Harold G. Coward and K. Kunjunni Raja, The Philosophy of the Grammarians (Volume 5 of Potter's Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies), pp. 33-50 ("Metaphysics").
  • Coward and Raja, The Philosophy of the Grammarians, pp. 121-138 ("Bhartrhari," including Ashok Aklujkar's summary of the Vakyapadiya up through the end of Book 1).
• On Gaudapada and Advaita Vedanta:
  • Karl H. Potter, Advaita Vedanta up to Samkara and His Pupils (Volume 3 of Potter's Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies), pp. 74-91 ("Advaita Metaphysics"). See also pp. 103-105, introducing Gaudapada.
  • Richard King, Early Advaita Vedanta and Buddhism, pp. 65-66 (translation of the Mandukya Upanisad) and pp. 243-258 (translation of the Gaudapadiya-karika on the Mandukya Upanisad).
• On Mandana Misra, a later writer on both grammarian philosophy and Advaita Vedanta:
  • Karl H. Potter, Advaita Vedanta up to Samkara and His Pupils (Volume 3 of Potter's Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies), pp. 346-363 ("Mandana Misra," including Allen W. Thrasher's summary of the Brahmasiddhi up through section I.27).

  Note: These books are all in Butler Library either on reserve or in the Reference Room. The selections other than Hamilton have also been brought together in a folder labelled "Early Advaita," multiple copies of which are on departmental reserve in the Religion Department.

Related Material

• Richard King, Early Vedanta and Buddhism.

  This is the best treatment of the connections between Gaudapada and the Buddhists. (On reserve in Butler Library.)

• N. Isayeva, From Early Vedanta to Kashmir Shaivism, Section I, on Gaudapada (pp. 13-65, "The Mind and the Cosmos: Reflection or Prototype?"), and Section II, on Bhartrhari (pp. 69-129, "Speech and the World: Creation or Expression?").

  An interesting treatment of the connections between Gaudapada, Bhartrhari, and the later Kashmiri Saiva philosopher Abhinavagupta. (On reserve in Butler Library.)

• Natalia Isayeva, Shankara and Indian Philosophy, Chapter II: "The Beginning of Vedanta: A Historical Sketch."

• Daniel H. H. Ingalls, "Bhaskara the Vedantin," Philosophy East and West 17 (1967): 61-67.

  Summarizes the rift between the shramanic/ascetic and householder/ritualist streams in early Vedanta, and gives a glimpse into the Difference-and-Nondifference (bhedabheda) brand of Vedanta that preceded (and survived) the rise of Advaita.

• T. M. P. Mahadevan, "Contemporary Relevance of the Insights of Advaita," pp. 109-132 in Chatterjee, Contemporary Indian Philosophy.

  By an expert on Gaudapada, discussing the connections between the tradition headed by Gaudapada and the concerns of modern thinkers, including European philosophers and scientists.

• Thomas E. Wood, The Mandukya Upanisad and the Agama Sastra: An Investigation into the Meaning of the Vedanta. Offers a theistic interpretation of Gaudapada's philosophy. Wood's treatment is criticized in detail by King in his book (see above).

Western Relevance

• Karl Pribram, Cognitive Revolution and Mind/Brain Issues: a key neuroscientist's application of "dual aspect monism" to the current metaphysical debate in cognitive neuroscience.

Links of interest