The Problem of Two Truths in Buddhism and Vedānta

Description

It would be a bulky and intricate volume indeed that treated adequately of the problem of two truths in Buddhism and Vedanta: the present volume is slim and unpretentious. Not the less incisive, for that, it is hoped, but certainly neither systematic nor complete, and this in several senses. Not all schools of Buddhism are dealt with: Theravada, Indian Y ogacara, and the Logicians are missing among the Indian schools and there is no refer­ ence to Chinese and Japanese Buddhism. The Vedanta discussed is only Advaita (non-dualist), and that virtually limited to Sankara. Nor does the volume as a whole take up the problem of two truths thematically, though each paper raises the philosophical questions its author.thinks appropriate. The title 'The Problem of Two Truths in Buddhism and Vedanta' prom­ ises more than the book itself contains. The reason for this is given in the prefatory 'Note': each chapter is a paper read and discussed at a working conference. All the papers from the conference are here published, and no others. The book has thus the contours dictated by the availability of scholars at the time of the conference. Front Matter....Pages I-VIII Introduction....Pages 1-8 Saṁvṛti and Paramārtha in Mādhyamika and Advaita Vedānta....Pages 9-26 The Significance of Pratītyasamutpāda for Understanding the Relationship between Saṁvṛti and Paramārthasatya in Nāgārjuna....Pages 27-39 The Mādhyamika Doctrine of Two Realities as a Metaphysic....Pages 40-53 A Critique of the Mādhyamika Position....Pages 54-63 The Nature of Saṁvṛti and the Relationship of Paramārtha to it in Svātantrika-Mādhyamika....Pages 64-77 Is Nāgārjuna A Mahāyānist?....Pages 78-88 Saṁvṛti and Paramārtha in Yogācāra According to Tibetan Sources....Pages 89-97 Some Uses and Implications of Advaita Vedānta’s Doctrine of Māyā....Pages 98-108 Māyā and the Discourse about Brahman....Pages 109-121 Back Matter....Pages 122-125