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2007 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title
A new interpretation of Hindu tradition focusing on the nature of God, the value of the world, and the meaning of liberation.
In this book, Anantanand Rambachan offers a fresh and detailed perspective on Advaita Vedanta, Hinduism’s most influential and revered religious tradition. Rambachan, who is both a scholar and an Advaitin, attends closely to the Upanisads and authentic commentaries of Sankara to challenge the tradition and to reconsider central aspects of its current teachings. His reconstruction and reinterpretation of Advaita focuses in particular on the nature of brahman, the status of the world in relation to brahman, and the meaning and relevance of liberation.
Rambachan queries contemporary representations of an impersonal brahman and the need for popular, hierarchical distinctions such as those between a higher (para) and lower (apara) brahman. Such distinctions, Rambachan argues, are inconsistent with the non-dual nature of brahman and are unnecessary when brahman’s relationship with the world is correctly understood. Questioning Advaita’s traditional emphasis on renunciation and world-denial, Rambachan expands the understanding of suffering (duhkha) and liberation (moksa) and addresses socioeconomic as well as gender and caste inequalities. Positing that the world is a celebrative expression of God’s fullness, this book advances Advaita as a universal and uninhibited path to a liberated life committed to compassion, equality, and justice.
“…a fine scholastic introduction to ‘the understanding of Self.’” — Nonduality Highlights
“With typical lucidity and stylistic elegance, Rambachan … makes a major contribution to the contemporary exegesis, exposition, and indeed evolution of Indian philosophy. A gifted thinker and writer, Rambachan here handles the heady and difficult concepts of classical nondualism with eminent clarity and ease.” — CHOICE
“This is a fine introduction to, and argument for a reinterpretation of, Advaita Vedanta by a scholar who is also an Advaitin. The book is thus constructive in two senses; it is theological and largely positive, while still solid scholarship. Such a combination, especially done well, is rare.” — Andrew O. Fort, author of Jivanmukti in Transformation: Embodied Liberation in Advaita and Neo-Vedanta
“This book embraces a fresh alternative to mainstream Advaita illusionism. Because of its novel understanding of the place and value of non-dualistic spirituality for contemporary societal needs, its plentiful illustrative examples, its practical spiritual guidance, its clear style, and overall brevity, it should be appreciated by both the novice and the trained scholar.” — Bradley J. Malkovsky, editor of New Perspectives on Advaita Vedanta
Anantanand Rambachan is Professor of Religion at St. Olaf College and is the author of several books, including The Limits of Scripture: Vivekananda’s Reinterpretation of the Vedas.
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