Philosophies of India / Edition 1

by Heinrich Zimmer

Overview

Originally published in 1973.

The volume is divided into four sections:

1. The introduction places the position of the Buddhist Tantras within Mahayana Buddhism and recalls their early literary history, especially the Guhyasamahatantra; the section also covers Buddhist Genesis and the Tantric tradition.
2. The foundations of the Buddhist Tantras are discussed and the Tantric presentation of divinity; the preparation of disciples and the meaning of initiation; symbolism of the mandala-palace Tantric ritual and the twilight language.
3. This section explores the Tantric teachings of the inner Zodiac and the fivefold ritual symbolism of passion.
4. The bibliographical research contains an analysis of the Tantric section of the Kanjur exegesis and a selected Western Bibliography of the Buddhist Tantras with comments.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415462327
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	02/12/2008
Series:	Routledge Library Editions: Buddhism
Pages:	724
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.80(d)

About the Author

Heinrich Zimmer (1890–1943) was an Indologist, linguist, and historian of South Asian art. Joseph Campbell (1904–1987) was the author of many books on comparative mythology, including The Hero with a Thousand Faces and The Masks of God.

Table of Contents

Part I: The Highest Good

I: The Meeting of East and West

1. The Roar of Awakening
2. The Steely Barb
3. The Claims of Science
4. The Four Aims of Life
5. Release and Progress

II: The foundations of Indian Philosophy

1. Philosophy as Way of Life
2. The Qualified Pupil
3. Philosophy as Power
4. "The Dying round the Holy Power"
5. Brahman

Part II: The Philosophies of Time

I: The Philosophy of Success

1. The World at War
2. The Tyrant State
3. Valor Against Time
4. The Function of Treachery
5. Political Geometry
6. The Seven Ways to Approach a Neighbour
7. The Universal King

II: The Philosophy of Pleasure

III: The Philosophy of Duty

1. Caste and the Four Life-Stages
2. Satya
3. Satyagraha
4. The Palace of Wisdom

Part II: The Philosophies of Eternity

I: Jainism

1. Parsva
2. Jaina Images
3. The Makers of the Crossing
4. The Qualities of Matter
5. The Mask of the Personality
6. The Cosmic Man
7. The Jaina Doctrine of Bondage
8. The Doctrine of Maskarin Gosala
9. Man Against Nature

II: Sankhya and Yoga

1. Kapila and Patanjali
2. Introvert-Concentration
3. The Hindrances
4. Integrity and Integration
5. Sankhya Psychology

III: Brahmanism

1. Veda
2. Upanisad
3. Bhagavad Gita
4. Vedanta

IV: Buddhism

1. Buddhahood
2. The Great Buddhist Kings
3. Hinayana and Mahayana
4. The Way of the Bodhisattva
5. The Great Delight

V: Tantra

1. Who Seeks Nirvana?
2. The Lamb, the Hero and the Man-God
3. All the Gods within Us

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"[A] major contribution to our understanding of Asia. It is both the most complete and most intelligent account of this extraordinarily rich and complex philosophical tradition yet written."—Alan Watts, New York Times

"Zimmer has introduced such order and coherence into the rich profusion of Indian thought that one wonders whether his services to Indian philosophy are not as great as his contribution to Western understanding of India."—R. J. K. Murray, Philosophical Quarterly

Editorial Reviews

"Indian philosophy was at the heart of Zimmer's interest in oriental studies, and this volume therefore represents his major contribution to our understanding of Asia. It is both the most complete and most intelligent account of this extraordinarily rich and complex philosophical tradition yet written."

New York Times Book Review

Indian philosophy was at the heart of Zimmer's interest in oriental studies, and this volume therefore represents his major contribution to our understanding of Asia. It is both the most complete and most intelligent account of this extraordinarily rich and complex philosophical tradition yet written.

The New York Times Book Review