Author: Theodore Stcherbatsky
Editor(s): Jaideva Singh
Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass
Year: 2003
Language: English
Pages: 315
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8120805291
Description
The Conception of Buddhist Nirvana provides an English translation of Nagarjuna’s chapters on Causality and Nirvana and Chandrakirti’s comprehensive commentary on the Sanskrit Text and presents a rare exposition of the Madhyamaka Dialectic.
The book is edited by Jaideva Singh with an exhaustive introduction, containing the historical background of the Madhyamaka philosophy, a lucid exposition of it merciless logic, an admirable presentation of its uncanny metaphysics and a systematic account of its soteriology and Buddhology.
The editor has also provided an Analysis of contents and has added those portions of the text and the Sanskrit commentary on the basis of which Stcherbatsky wrote out his book. This will enable the reader to make a comparative study of Stcherbatsky’s version with the original Sanskrit.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
THEODORE STCHERBATSKY (1866-1942) one of the pioneering scholars of Buddhist Studies who wrote, edited and translated several works like – Nyayabindu, Abhisamayalamkara Prajnaparamitopadesa Sastra, Buddhist Logic (2 Vols.), The Central Conception of Buddhism, Erkenntnistheorie and Logic, nqch der Lehre der Spateren Buddhisten and so on and so forth.
Contents
PART I
INTRODUCTION
Mahayana and Hinayana
Three phases in Buddhism
Madhyamaka Sastra: Life of Nagarjuna and Aryadeva
The Original Sources of Mahayana
The Madhyamaka Works and Schools
The Madhyamaka Dialectic: Its Origin, Structure and Development
Positive Contribution of Nagarjuna
Distinction between Hinayana and Mahayana
Main features of Madhyamaka Philosophy
Analysis of Contents
Preliminary
Mystic Intuition (Yogi-Pratyaksa)
Buddha’s belief inj personal Immortality
Was Buddha an Agnostic
The Position of the later Schools of Hinayana
The Double Character of the Absolute
The Vaibhasikas
The Sautrantikas
The Yogacaras
The Madhyamikas
The Doctrine of Causality in the Hinayana
The Doctrine of Relativity
The Real Eternal Buddha
The New Conception of Nirvana
Is relativity itself reality?
Parallel Developments in Buddhism and Brahmanism
European Parallels
The Position of Nyaya-Vaisesika
Conclusion
A Treatise on Relativity
Prefatory
Examination of Causality
Preliminary
The Meaning of Pratitya-Samutpada
The Meaning of this Term in Hinayana
The Hinayanist Interpretation rejected
The Opinion of Bhavaviveka refuted
Bhavaviveka’s Criticism Unsound
The Definition of the term by Bhavaviveka
The Principle of Reality: The Law of all Pluralistic existence
Causality Denied
Identity of Cause and Effect Denied
Bhavaviveka assails the Comment of Buddhapalita
The First Objection of Bhavaviveka Answered
The Second Point of Bhavaviveka Rejected
The Madhyamika Method Explained
Buddhapalita’s Comment Vindicated from the Standpoint of Formal Logic
The Answer of the Sankhya Virtually Repudiated by Buddhapalita
Some Minor Points Explained
The Third Stricture of Bhavaviveka Answered. The Denial of one View does not imply the Acceptance of the contrary
Examination of Bhavaviveka’s Formal Argument Against The Sankhya
Bhavaviveka’s Argument Assailed From the Standpoint of Formal Logic
Another Attempt of Bhavaviveka to Vindicate His Argument
Bhavaviveka Also Avails Himself of the Argument That for the Monist All Individual Existence is Unreal
Another Formal Error in the Syllogism of Bhavaviveka
The Madhyamika Repudiates His Opponent on Principles Admitted by Him
Logical Refutation on The Basis of Facts Admitted By Only One Party
Denial of Causality Through Separate Substance
Combined Causality Denied
No Pluralistic Universe Without Causation
Causality Through The Will Of God
Mahayana And Hinayana Contrasted
The Direct And Indirect Meaning of Buddha’s Words
How Is The Moral Law To be Vindicated in An Unreal World?
The Twelve Membered Causal Series Refers To the Phenomenal World
Controversy About the Validity of Logic
Controversy with The Buddhist Logician Continued
Critique of the Notion of An Absolute Particular Point-instant
Introspection
The Discussion About The Point-instant Resumed
Is There A Cogniser?
Vindication of Phenomenal Reality
The Definition of Sense Perception
The Hinayana Theory of Causation Examined
The Existence of Separate Energies Denied
Causation Is Not Co-ordination
The Cause-Condition
The Object – A Condition of Mental Phenomena
The Cause Materials Denied
The Special Cause Also Denied
Examination of Nirvana
The Hinayanistic Nirvana Rejected
The Mahayanistic Nirvana
Nirvana Not An Ens (a particular existing entity)
Nirvana is not Non-Ens (non-existing entity)
Nirvana Is The World Viewed Sub specie Aeternitatis
Nirvana Is Not Both Ens And Non-Ens together
Nor Is Nirvana A negation of Both Ens And Non-Ens Together
The Real Buddha, What?
Ultimate Identity of The Phenomenal And The Absolute
The Antimonies
Conclusion
PART II
Preliminary
Buddhism And Yoga
Mystic Intuition (Yoga-Pratyaksa)
Buddha’s Belief In Personal Immortality
Was Buddha An Agnostic?
The Position of The Later Schools of The Hinayana
The Double Character of The Absolute
The Vaibhasikas
The Sautrantikas
The Yogacaras
The Madhyamikas
The Doctrine of Causality In The Hinayana
This Doctrine Modified In Mahayana
The Doctrine of Relativity
The Real Eternal Buddha Cognised In Mystic Intuition
The New Conception Of Nirvana
Is Relativity Itself Relative? Condemnation of All Logic For The Cognition Of The Absolute
Parallel Developments In Buddhism And Brahmanism
European Parallels
The Position Of Nyaya-Vaisesika
Conclusion
Appendix
Nagarjuna’s Treatise On Relativity
Prefatory
Dedication
Chapter I
Examination Of Causality
Chapter XXV
Examination Of Nirvana
A Comment Upon Nagarjuna’s Treatise On Relativity By Chandrakirti
Examination Of Causality
Preliminary
The Meaning Of Pratitya Samutpada According To The Author
The Meaning Of This Term In Hinayana
The Hinayanist Interpretation Rejected
The Opinion Of Bhavaviveka
Bhavaviveka’s Criticism Of Buddhapalita’s Comment
The Definition Of The Term By Bhavaviveka
The Principle Of Relativity The Law Of All Pluralistic Existence
Causality Denied
Identity Of Cause And Effect Denied
Bhavaviveka Assails The Comment Of Buddhapalita
The First Objection Of Bhavaviveka Answered
The Second Point Of Bhavaviveka Viz. That The Answer Of The Sankhya Is Left Unnoticed By Buddhapalita, Rejected
The Madhyamika Method Explained
Buddhapalita’s Comment Vindicated From The Standpoint of Formal Logic
The Answer Of The Sankhya Virtually Repudiated by Buddhapalita
Some Minor Points Explained
The Third Stricture Of Bhavaviveka Answered The Denial Of One View Does Not Imply The Acceptance Of The Other
Examination Of the Bhavaviveka’s Formal Argument Against the Sankhya
Bhavaviveka’s Argument Assailed Form The Standpoint Of Formal Logic
Another Attempt Of Bhavaviveka To Vindicate His Argument
Bhavaviveka Also Avails Himself Of The Argument That For The Monist All Individual Existence Is Unreal
Another Formal Error In The Syllogism Of Bhavaviveka
The Madhyamika Repudiates His Opponent On Principles Admitted As Valid By The Same Opponent
Logical Reputation On The Basis Of Facts Admitted by Only One Party
Denial Of Causality Through A Separate Substance
Combined Casuality Denied
No Pluralistic Universe Without Causation
Causality Through The Will Of God
Mahayana And Hinayana Contrasted
The Direct And Indirect Meaning Of Buddha’s Words
How Is The Moral Law To Be vindicated In An Unreal World
The Twelve Membered Causal Series Refers To The Phenomenal World
Controversy About The Validity Of Logic
Controversy With The Buddhist Logician Continued
Critique Of The Notion Of An Absolute Particular Point-Instant
Introspection
The Discussion About The Point-Instant Resumed
Is There A Cogniser
Vindication Of Phenomenal Reality
The Definition Of The Sense Perception
The Hinayana Theory Of Causation Examined
Existence of Separate Energies Denied
Causation Is not co-ordination
Cause condition
Object – a Condition of mental phenomena
Cause materials denied
Special cause denied
Examination Of Nirvana
Mahayanistic Nirvana, What?
Nirvana not an Ens
Nirvana a Non-Ens
Nirvana is This World Viewed
Nirvana not both Ens and non-Ens
Nirvana not a negation of both Ens and non-Ens
Real Buddha What?
Ultimate Identity of the phenomenal and the Absolute
Antinomies
Conclusion
PART III
Madhyamaka Sastra of Nagarjuna Sanskrit Text With the Commentary Prasannapada of Acarya Candrakirti
Pratyaya Pariksa
Nirvana Pariksa
PART IV
Index To The Introduction
Index To Stcherbatsky’s Text
Index To Subjects