Early Advaita Vedanta and Buddhism: The Mahayana Context of the Gaudapadiya-Karika (Suny Series in Religious Studies) [Paperback]

Richard King (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 3, 1995 | Series: Suny Series in Religious Studies

This book provides an in-depth analysis of the doctrines of early Advaita and Buddhism that has important implications for the question of the relationship between Hindu and Buddhist thought. The author examines the central doctrines of the Gaudapadiya-karikain a series of chapters that discuss early Advaita in relation to the Abhidharma, Madhyamaka, and Yogacara schools of Buddhism. The question of the doctrinal diversity of Indian Buddhism is also discussed through an analysis of the concept of 'Buddha-Nature' and its relationship with Vedantic thought.

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About the Author

Richard King is Lecturer in Religious Studies in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Stirling, Scotland.

Product Details

• Paperback: 354 pages
• Publisher: State University of New York Press (August 3, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0791425142
• ISBN-13: 978-0791425145
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,200,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Richard King was born in London in 1966 and is a scholar of Indian philosophy and religion and theories of religion. He has worked in the UK and the USA and is currently Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. He has written on postcolonial approaches to the study of religion, the history of Hindu and Buddhist philosophy (especially the relationship of early Advaita Vedanta and Indian Buddhism), mysticism and spirituality and has contributed to debates on the colonial construction of modern notions of "Hinduism".

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5.0 out of 5 stars Early Advaita Vedanta and Buddhism, August 17, 2000

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This review is from: Early Advaita Vedanta and Buddhism: The Mahayana Context of the Gaudapadiya-Karika (Suny Series in Environmental Public Policy) (Hardcover)

The origins of the school of thought known as the Advaita Vedanta in medieval India is a subject that is fraught with numerous controversies. This is a very important study on the relationship between the Advaita Vedanta and Mahayana Buddhism. It is important because it approaches the study of Advaita Vedanta from a historico-philosophical perspective, that is, it situates Advaita Vedanta squarely within the context and influence of Mahayana Buddhism. This is a context that is usually ignored in present-day studies. This is an approach that is at once distinctive and penetrating, for it gives us a deeper insight into how the medieval Indian philosophers (i.e. Sankara) understood their project, rather then imposing our usualy presuppositions on them. What is the relationship between Advaita Vedanta and MAhayana Buddhism? Is it appropriate to view Sankara as a Buddhist in disguise? What is the philosophical basis of Advaita Vedanta and Mahayana Buddhism? These are but some of the questions that the author explores. This is a must-buy for any serious student of Indian thought in general. BE WARNED though, because just as this work is illuminating, it may also be deconstructive of our most deeply entrenched beliefs about Advaita Vedanta and MAhayana Buddhism.