The Conception of Buddhist Nirvana provides an English translation of Nagarjuna's chapters on Causality and Nirvana, 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 its 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 the portions of the text, and the Sanskrit commentary on the basis of which Stcherbatsky wrote out his book, enabling the reader to make a comparative study of Stcherbatsky's version with the Original Sanskrit. About the Author: Theodore Stcherbatsky (1866-1942) is a pioneering scholar of Buddhist Studies and has written, 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. Contents Part I Introduction Mahayana and Hinayana 1 Three phases in Budhism 2 Madhyamaka Sastra : Life of Nagarjuna and Aryadeva 3 The Original Sources of Mahayana 7 The Madhyamaka Works and Schools 11 The Madhyamaka Dialectic : Its Origin, Structure and Development 14 Positive Contribution of Nagarjuna 20 Distinction between Hinayana and Mahayana 22 Main features of Madhyamaka Philosohy
36 Analysis of Contents
Preliminary 61 Mystic Intuition (Yogi-Pratyaksa) 63 Buddha's belief in personal Immortality 64 Was Buddha an Agnostic 64 The Position of the later Schools of Hinayana 64 The Double Character of the Absolute 65 The Vaibhasikas 66 The Sautrantikas 67 The Yogacaras 67 The Madhyamikas 68 The Doctrine of Causality in the Hinayana 69 The Doctrine of Relativity 70 The Real Eternal Buddha 70 The New Conception of Nirvana 70 Is relativity itself reality? 71 Parallel Developments in Buddhism and Brahmanism 72 European Parallels 72 The Position of Nyaya-Vaisesika 73 Conclusion 75 A Treatise on Relativily 76 Prefatory 78 Examination of Causality 78 Preliminary 78 The Meaning of Pratitya-Samutpada 78 The Meaning of this Term in Hinayana 78 The Hinayanist Interpretation rejected 79 The Opinion of Bhavaviveka refuted 79 Bhavaviveka's Criticism Unsound 79 The Definition of the term by Bhavaviveka 79 The Principle of Reality : The Law of all Pluralistic existence 80 Causality Denied 80 Identity of Cause and Effect Denied 80 Bhavaviveka assails the Comment of Buddhapalita 80 The First Objection of Bhavaviveka Answered 81 The Second Point of Bhavaviveka Rejected 81 The Madhyamika Method Explained Buddhapalita's Comment Vindicated from the Standpoint of Formal Logic 81 The Answer of the Sankhya Virtually Repudiated by Buddhapalita 82 Some Minor Points Explained 82 The Third Stricture of Bhavaviveka Answered. The Denial of one View does not imply the Acceptance of the contrary 82 Examination of Bhavaviveka's Formal Argument Against The Sankhya 83 Bhavaviveka's Argument Assailed From the Standpoint of Formal Logic 83 Another Attempt of Bhavaviveka to Vindicate His Argument 83 Bhavaviveka Also Avails Himself of the Argument That for the Monist All Individual Existence is Unreal 84 Another Formal Error in the Syllogism of Bhavaviveka 85 The Madhyamika Repudiates His Opponent on Principles Admitted by Him 85 Logical Refutation on The Basis of Facts Admitted By Only One Party 85 Denial of Causality Through Separate Substance 85 Combined Causality Denied 86 No Pluralistic Universe Without Causation 86 Causality Through The Will Of God 86 Mahayana And Hinayana Contrasted 86 The Direct And Indirect Meaning of Buddha's Words 87 How Is The Moral Law To Be Vindicated in An Unreal World ? 87 The Twelve Membered Causal Series Refers To the Phenomenal World 88 Controversy About the Validity of Logic 88 Controversy with The Buddhist Logician Continued 89 Critique of the Notion of AN Absolute Particular Point-instant 89 Introspection 90 The Discussion About The Point-instant Resumed 90 Is There A Cogniser ? 91 Vindication of Phenomenal Reality 91 The Definition of Sense Perception 92 The Hinayana Theory of Causation Examined 92 The Existence of Separate Energies Denied 93 Causation Is Not Co-ordination 93 The Cause-Condition 94 The Object-A Condition of Mental Phenomena 94 The Cause Materials Denied 95 The Special Cause Also Denied
95 Examination of Nirvana
The Hinayanistic Nirvana Rejected 96 The Mahayanistic Nirvana 96 Nirvana Not As Ens (a particular existing entity) 97 Nirvana is not Non-Ens (non-existing entity) 97 Nirvana Is The World Viewed Sub specie Aeternitatis 98 Nirvana Is Not Both Ens And Non-Ens together 98 Nor Is Nirvana A negation of Both Ens And Non-Ens Together 99 The Real Buddha, What? 99 Ultimate Identity of The Phenomenal And The Absolute 99 The Antimonies 99 Conclusion
|
