The Vedic Origins of Karma

The Vedic Origins of Karma
Author: Herman W. Tull
Publisher: State University of New York Press
Total Pages: 196
Release: 1989-08-15
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 143842244X

In this book, the author seeks access to Karma's origins by following several clues suggested by the doctrine's earliest formulation in the Upanistexts (circa 600-500 B.C.) These clues lead back to the mythical and ritual structures firmly established in the Brahmana texts, texts concerned with the rituals that chronologically and conceptually precede the UpanisThe rise of the karma doctrine is tied to the increasing dominance in late Vedic thought of the cosmic man (Purusa/Prajapati) mythology and its ritual analogue the "building of the fire altar" (agnicayana).

The Doctrine of Karma

The Doctrine of Karma
Author: Y. Krishan
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Total Pages: 226
Release: 1997
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 9788120812338

ABOUT THE BOOK:Here is a work that deals with the Doctrine of Karma in all its coMprehensiveness and covers all its conceiveable facets in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Essentially the approach is historical. It traces the genesis of the doctrine in

The Vedic Origins of Karma

The Vedic Origins of Karma
Author: Herman Wayne Tull
Publisher: SUNY Press
Total Pages: 196
Release: 1989-01-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780791400944

In this book, the author seeks access to Karma's origins by following several clues suggested by the doctrine's earliest formulation in the Upanistexts (circa 600-500 B.C.) These clues lead back to the mythical and ritual structure firmly established in the Brahmana texts, texts concerned with the rituals that chronologically and conceptually precede the UpanisThe rise of the karma doctrine is tied to the increasing dominance in late Vedic thought of the cosmic man (Purusa/Prajapati) mythology and its ritual analogue the "building of the fire altar" (agnicayana).

Discovering the Vedas

Discovering the Vedas
Author: Frits Staal
Publisher: Penguin UK
Total Pages: 468
Release: 2008-05-14
Genre: Literary Collections
ISBN: 8184758839

This Is A Remarkable Book. It Untangles The Many Complexities Of The Vedas And Combines Staal S Scholarly Respect For The Texts, With Explanations That Are Lucid And Occasionally Witty. His Insights Are Thoughtful And Perceptive. Romila Thapar In This Unprecedented Guide To The Vedas, Frits Staal, The Celebrated Author Of Agni: The Vedic Ritual Of The Fire Altar And Universals: Studies In Indian Logic And Linguistics Examines Almost Every Aspect Of These Ancient Sources Of Indic Civilisation. Staal Extracts Concrete Information From The Oral Tradition And Archaeology About Vedic People And Their Language, What They Thought And Did, And Where They Went And When. He Provides Essential Information About The Vedas And Includes Selections And Translations. Staal Sheds Light On Mantras And Rituals, That Contributed To What Came To Be Known As Hinduism. Significant Is A Modern Analysis Of What We Can Learn From The Vedas Today: The Original Forms Of The Vedic Sciences, As Well As The Perceptive Wisdom Of The Composers Of The Vedas. The Author Puts Vedic Civilisation In A Global Perspective Through A Wide-Ranging Comparison With Other Indic Philosophies And Religions, Primarily Buddhism For Staal, Originally A Logician, The Voyage Of Discovering The Vedas Is Like Unpeeling An Onion But Without The Certainty Of Reaching An End. Even So, His Book Shows That The Vedas Have A Logic All Their Own. Accessible, Finely-Argued, And With A Wealth Of Information And Insight, Discovering The Vedas Is For Both The Scholar And The Interested Lay Reader.

Karma

Karma
Author: Johannes Bronkhorst
Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
Total Pages: 153
Release: 2011-08-24
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0824860152

Karma has become a household word in the modern world, where it is associated with the belief in rebirth determined by one’s deeds in earlier lives. This belief was and is widespread in the Indian subcontinent as is the word “karma” itself. In lucid and accessible prose, this book presents karma in its historical, cultural, and religious context. Initially, karma manifested itself in a number of religious movements—most notably Jainism and Buddhism—and was subsequently absorbed into Brahmanism in spite of opposition until the end of the first millennium C.E. Philosophers of all three traditions were confronted with the challenge of explaining by what process rebirth and karmic retribution take place. Some took the drastic step of accepting the participation of a supreme god who acted as a cosmic accountant, others of opting for radical idealism. The doctrine of karma was confronted with alternative explanations of human destiny, among them the belief in the transfer of merit. It also had to accommodate itself to devotional movements that exerted a major influence on Indian religions. The book concludes with some general reflections on the significance of rebirth and karmic retribution, drawing attention to similarities between early Christian and Indian ascetical practices and philosophical notions that in India draw their inspiration from the doctrine of karma.

How I Became a Hindu

How I Became a Hindu
Author: David Frawley
Publisher:
Total Pages: 224
Release: 2000
Genre: Hindu converts from Christianity
ISBN:

Autobiography of Vedic scholar converts from Christianity.

The Artful Universe

The Artful Universe
Author: William K. Mahony
Publisher: SUNY Press
Total Pages: 346
Release: 1998-01-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780791435793

Provides an accessible introduction to the Vedic religious world by focusing on the role of divine and human imagination in sacred texts.

Yoga, Karma, and Rebirth

Yoga, Karma, and Rebirth
Author: Stephen Phillips
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Total Pages: 370
Release: 2009-06-26
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 0231144857

For serious yoga practitioners curious to know the ancient origins of the art, Phillips lays out the philosophy of action, knowledge, and devotion, as well as the processes of meditation, reasoning, and self-analysis, that formed the basis of yoga in ancient and classical India.

Classical Indian Philosophy

Classical Indian Philosophy
Author: Peter Adamson
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 422
Release: 2020-03-26
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 0192592661

Peter Adamson and Jonardon Ganeri present a lively introduction to one of the world's richest intellectual traditions: the philosophy of classical India. They begin with the earliest extant literature, the Vedas, and the explanatory works that these inspired, known as Upaniṣads. They also discuss other famous texts of classical Vedic culture, especially the Mahābhārata and its most notable section, the Bhagavad-Gīta, alongside the rise of Buddhism and Jainism. In this opening section, Adamson and Ganeri emphasize the way that philosophy was practiced as a form of life in search of liberation from suffering. Next, the pair move on to the explosion of philosophical speculation devoted to foundational texts called 'sutras,' discussing such traditions as the logical and epistemological Nyāya school, the monism of Advaita Vedānta, and the spiritual discipline of Yoga. In the final section of the book, they chart further developments within Buddhism, highlighting Nagārjuna's radical critique of 'non-dependent' concepts and the no-self philosophy of mind found in authors like Dignāga, and within Jainism, focusing especially on its 'standpoint' epistemology. Unlike other introductions that cover the main schools and positions in classical Indian philosophy, Adamson and Ganeri's lively guide also pays attention to philosophical themes such as non-violence, political authority, and the status of women, while considering textual traditions typically left out of overviews of Indian thought, like the Cārvaka school, Tantra, and aesthetic theory as well. Adamson and Ganeri conclude by focusing on the much-debated question of whether Indian philosophy may have influenced ancient Greek philosophy and, from there, evaluate the impact that this area of philosophy had on later Western thought.

Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction

Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction
Author: Damien Keown
Publisher: Oxford Paperbacks
Total Pages: 180
Release: 1996-10-03
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0191606448

This Very Short Introduction introduces the reader to the teachings of the Buddha and to the integration of Buddhism into daily life. What are the distinctive features of Buddhism? Who was the Buddha, and what are his teachings? How has Buddhist thought developed over the centuries, and how can contemporary dilemmas be faced from a Buddhist perspective? Words such as 'karma' and 'nirvana' have entered our vocabulary, but what do they mean? Damien Keown's book provides a lively, informative response to these frequently asked questions about Buddhism.