The character of the self in ancient India : priests, kings, and women in the early Upanisads / Brian Black.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Black, Brian, 1970-

Series:

SUNY series in Hindu studies.

SUNY series in Hindu studies

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Hindu literature, Sanskrit--History and criticism.

Hindu literature, Sanskrit.

Character in literature.

Self in literature.

Upanishads--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Upanishads.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (240 p.)

Place of Publication:

Albany : State University of New York Press, 2007.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This groundbreaking book is an elegant exploration of the Upanisads, often considered the fountainhead of the rich, varied philosophical tradition in India. The Upaniṣads, in addition to their philosophical content, have a number of sections that contain narratives and dialogues—a literary dimension largely ignored by the Indian philosophical tradition, as well as by modern scholars. Brian Black draws attention to these literary elements and demonstrates that they are fundamental to understanding the philosophical claims of the text.Focusing on the Upanisadic notion of the self (ātman), the book is organized into four main sections that feature a lesson taught by a brahmin teacher to a brahmin student, debates between brahmins, discussions between brahmins and kings, and conversations between brahmins and women. These dialogical situations feature dramatic elements that bring attention to both the participants and the social contexts of Upanisadic philosophy, characterizing philosophy as something achieved through discussion and debate. In addition to making a number of innovative arguments, the author also guides the reader through these profound and engaging texts, offering ways of reading the Upaniṣads that make them more understandable and accessible.

Contents:

""The Character of the Self in Ancient India""; ""Contents""; ""Acknowledgments""; ""Abbreviations""; ""Introduction""; ""OPENING STATEMENT""; ""WHAT ARE THE UPANISADS?""; ""THE SELF, LIFE, DEATH, AND IMMORTALITY""; ""THE HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXT""; ""CHARACTERIZING THE SELF""; ""LITERARY CHARACTERS""; ""THE SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF KNOWLEDGE""; ""MYSTERY OR MYSTIQUE: THE CHARACTER OF KNOWLEDGE""; ""1. Teachers and Students: The Emergence of Teaching as an Object of Discourse""; ""INTRODUCTION""; ""SANDILYA AND THE TEACHING OF ATMAN AND BRAHMAN""; ""SANDILYA FROM RITUALIST TO TEACHER""

""UDDALAKA ARUNI AND THE TEACHING OF TAT TVAM ASI""""UDDALAKA AND SVETAKETU:ACTING OUT THE UPANAYANA""; ""INDRA AS THE PERSISTENT STUDENT""; ""NARADA AND SANATKUMARA: KNOWLEDGE OF ATMAN AS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE VEDAS""; ""NACIKETAS AND THE INITIATION OF ANUPANISHADIC BRAHMIN""; ""THE GRADUATION OF A BRAHMIN STUDENTIN THE TAITTIRIYA UPANISAD""; ""SATYAKAMA AND THE BEGINNINGS OF A BRAHMIN HAGIOGRAPHY""; ""CONCLUSION""; ""2. Debates between Brahmins: The Competitive Dynamics of the Brahmodya""; ""INTRODUCTION""; ""THE BRAHMODYA AND THE SACRIFICE""

""Notes""

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780791480526

0791480526

9781429499804

142949980X

OCLC:

174144979