The Method of Early Advaita Vedanta: A Study of Gaudapada, Sankara, Suresvara and Padmapada [Hardcover]

Michael Comans (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 5, 2002

This is a unique work discussing the teachings of four of the great Advaita Acharyas: Gaudapada, Sankara, and his disciples, Suresvara and Padmapada. This work will be of great value to one who is seeking to develop his spirituality within the Advaita tradition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 492 pages
• Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass,; 1st edition (February 5, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 8120817222
• ISBN-13: 978-8120817227
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,397,911 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In-depth examination of key topics, September 21, 2008

By 

D. Waite (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Method of Early Advaita Vedanta: A Study of Gaudapada, Sankara, Suresvara and Padmapada (Hardcover)

I had been aware of the existence of this book for a number of years but had postponed reading it because I was under the impression that it was of only academic interest, comparing the finer details of various schools or teachers. In fact, although there is a little of this (e.g. in comparing Gaudapada's teaching to aspects of Buddhism), its strength for me is in its detailed examination of some particular aspects of traditional advaita. Topics specifically addressed are Ishvara, jIva, upAdhi, nAma rUpa, avidyA, adhyAsa, lakShaNa, immediate versus mediate knowledge and experience, jIvanmukti, saMnyAsa, anvaya vyatireka - and their treatment is extremely clear and informative.

The chapters on Sureshvara and PadmapAda were also very enlightening for me personally, since I had not previously investigated them. In the case of the former, he provides an analysis of the naiShkarmya siddhi which is so interesting that I was prompted to order the translation by A. J. Alston (`Realization of the Absolute') immediately. In the case of the PadmapAda, he presents a valuable analysis of his commentary on Shankara's adhyAsa bhAShya.

All in all, this is an excellent book, which is highly recommended for anyone who, though already familiar with the topics in a general way, wants to understand them in greater depth. It does seem that, as soon as you look in greater detail into something that you thought you understood, you discover that there is much more to it than you had thought and perhaps you didn't understand it properly after all. Michael Comans' book takes you deep into the undergrowth but guides you carefully out the other side.
Dennis Waite, author of Back to the Truth: 5000 years of Advaita

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quality and Depth, October 24, 2006

By 

Eugene J. Shearn "E. J." (Baraboo, WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Method of Early Advaita Vedanta: A Study of Gaudapada, Sankara, Suresvara and Padmapada (Hardcover)

The author shows that he grasps the subtleties and nuances of not only Advaita Vedanta and it's commentaries, but also of Madhyamaka and Yogacara buddhism. He unpacks the meanings of these profound teachings in a precise, coherent and unpretensious manner without losing or overplaying his obvious scholarly expertise. Highly recomended for those intersted in understanding the knowledge revealed by Advaita Vedanta of the "first waters," as opposed to the subjecive experiential prattlings of neo-advaita in the current satsang culture.