Author: Arvind Sharma
Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass
Year: 1993
Language: English
Pages: 116
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8120810589
Description
The Experiential dimension of Advaita Vedanta provides a clear, concise and precise introduction to Advaita Vedanta, on the basis of something more powerful than argument, namely, experience.
This book is intended for those who have either a fleeting or nodding acquaintance with Hindu thought or a curiosity about it, specially that part of it known as Advaita Vedanta, but have also wondered whether this body thought has anything to do with the daily experience of living. This book makes the claim that – stripped bare of the Sanskrit language and he cultural idiom in which it is expressed - this body of thought offers an analysis of life which bears a direct relevance to our daily business of living.
The relevance is in fact so direct that no Sanskrit word other than Advaita itself may be required in expounding it, and no authority at all need be invoked in elaborating it except that of experience; the experience of those of whom it may be claimed that they have actually undergone he experience which he body of thought seeks to explore. In the pages of this book the reader will encounter only five major terms or names with which the reader may not already be familiar: Advaita Vedanta (Advaita for short); Sankara, Ramana and Nisargadatta.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A former member of the IAS, ARVIND SHARMA (BA A Allahabad, 1958; M A Syracuse, 1970; MTS Harvard Divinity School, 1974; PhD Harvard University, 1978) is currently Professor of Comparative Religion at McGill University, Montreal, Canada. He has also taught in Australia (Brisbane and Sydney) and the United States (Philadelphia). Dr Sharma is a leading historian of religion and one of the most significant Hindu thinkers since Radhakrishnan.
Contents
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
PART I
CHAPTER I
What is Normal Experience?
CHAPTER II
A Critique of Normal Experience
CHAPTER III
Conclusions based on the Critique of Normal Experience
CHAPTER IV
Advaitin Experience and its Relationship to Normal Experience
PART II
CHAPTER V
Some Other Approaches to Normal Experience
CHAPTER VI
The Reconciliation and Normal and Advaitin Experience
CHAPTER VII
Advaitin Experience in the Course of Daily Living
CHAPTER VIII
Some Accounts of Advaitin Experience
CONCLUSION
NOTES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
GLOSSARY
INDEX
A former member of the IAS, ARVIND SHARMA (BA A Allahabad, 1958; M A Syracuse, 1970; MTS Harvard Divinity School, 1974; PhD Harvard University, 1978) is currently Professor of Comparative Religion at McGill University, Montreal, Canada. He has also taught in Australia (Brisbane and Sydney) and the United States (Philadelphia). Dr Sharma is a leading historian of religion and one of the most significant Hindu thinkers since Radhakrishnan.