Consciousness, Knowledge, and Ignorance

by Gupta, Bina

• ISBN13: 9781935011033
• ISBN10: 1935011030
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-08-30
• Publisher: Amer Inst of Buddhist Studies

Summary

The first English translation of the "First Section" (Prathama Varnakam) -- the "Section on Inquiry" (Jijñasadhikaranam) -- of the Pañacapadikavivaranam, a Sanskrit commentary offering a systematic exposition of Advaita (nondualistic) Vedanta from the Vivarana perspective. The central question concerns the nature of ignorance, or not-knowing, and its relation to knowing. It discusses how ignorance obstructs the nature of reality; the locus and support of ignorance; and whether ignorance is a positive entity. Includes a detailed introduction, transliterated text, translation, and explanatory notes.

Table of Contents

Publisher's Note	p. xi
Series Editor's Preface	p. xiii
Author's Preface	p. xv
Abbreviations & Sigla	p. xviii
Introduction
Introduction	p. 3
Historical Context and Substance of the PPV	p. 4
Consciousness, Knowledge, and Ignorance	p. 10
Basic Metaphysical and Epistemological Advaita Concepts and Principles	p. 23
Brahman	p. 23
Levels of Being	p. 34
The Brahman and the World	p. 39
Adhyasa	p. 41
Maya or Avidya	p. 46
How is Avidyä known?	p. 67
The Locus and the Object of Avidya	p. 77
Avidya: One or Many?	p. 82
The Brahman and the Jiva	p. 87
Pratibimbavada (the reflection theory)	p. 88
Abhasavada (the semblance theory)	p. 89
Avacchedavada (the limitation theory)	p. 90
The Path to Moksa	p. 91
The PPV and the Western Tradition	p. 106
Transliterated Text, Translation, and Critical Explanatory Notes
Mangalacarana	p. 123
The Object and the Purpose of the Commentary	p. 129
What is Removed by Knowledge is Not a Real Entity	p. 142
Darkness is Positive	p. 153
Ignorance as the Material Cause of Superimposition	p. 156
Perception Establishes that Ignorance is Positive	p. 168
Inference Also Establishes that Ignorance is Positive	p. 172
Postulation Also Establishes that Ignorance is Positive	p. 173
Establishment of the Thesis that Ignorance Does Not Conceal Not-Self; There is No Need of it	p. 175
Establishment of the Thesis that Ignorance is One, Not Many; Concealment of the Self by Ignorance	p. 179
The Refutation of the Bhaskara View	p. 184
Immediate Apprehension of Silver in an Erroneous Cognition (Exposition of Akhyati)	p. 203
What is an Erroneous Cognition? Refutation of Akhyati	p. 210
Refutation of the Buddhist Theory of the Relation Between Words and Their Meanings; Determination of atmakhyati	p. 217
Two Mental Modifications (Vrttis) in an Erroneous Cognition; One Reality and the Levels of Existence	p. 230
Non-Difference of Ma ya and Avidya	p. 239
Consideration of Cancellation (Badha)	p. 245
Establishment of the Self-Luminosity of the Self	p. 268
Establishment of the Thesis that Self-Luminous Consciousness is the Locus of the Self, Which Does Not Contradict the Identity of the Brahman and the Jiva	p. 275
Establishment of the Thesis that Ignorance is the Material Cause of the Distinction Between the Brahman and the Jiva and the Relation Between Avidya and Consciousness	p. 279
Establishment of the Thesis that Consciousness is the Locus of Ignorance, not the Inner Sense	p. 283
Consciousness as the Object of Ignorance	p. 287
Refutation of the Samkhya View of the Self and Determination of the View that the "I" Denotes the Self	p. 295
The Inner Sense is Different from the Self; the Self is Self-Luminous	p. 309
Exposition of the Conclusive View Regarding the "I"-Sense	p. 313
Not Counted
Ignorance is a Positive Entity Rather than the Absence of Knowledge	p. 321
"I" is not Pure Self; the Status of Life (Prana)	p. 327
Existence of the Inner Sense: Objections by the Opponents	p. 330
Ignorance is the Cause of the Distinction Between the Original and its Reflection	p. 347
The Reflection Theory is Better than the Limitation Theory	p. 352
Ignorance, Inner Sense, Gross Body, and the Jiva; Distinction Between the Jiva and the Brahman in Deep Sleep; the Objections Against the Position that it is a Reflection and the Resolution	p. 355
Determination of Pratikramavyavastha, Possible Objections, Alternatives, and Resolutions	p. 363
Vijñanavada vs. Advaita Vedanta	p. 379
Pratyabhijña	p. 388
Establishment of the Momentariness of the Vijñana Inferentially	p. 395
Refutation of the Position that the Space is Visible and Inferable	p. 423
Establishment of the Thesis that the Inner Sense is Known by the Saksin	p. 446
The Purpose of the Vedantic Texts	p. 453
Brahman? Inclusive or Exclusive of the World?	p. 460
Whether Truth and Falsity of Cognitions Intrinsic or Extrinsic?	p. 468
sabda and Immediate Knowledge	p. 480
Determination of the Thesis that Reflection and Contemplation are Subservient to Hearing	p. 484
Jivan Mukti	p. 488
The Purpose of Vidhi and the Beginning of the Inquiry into the Vedantic Texts	p. 491
Bibliography	p. 501
Index	p. 511
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