East Asian and Indian philosophy Books

Book SynopsisKupperman shows how six important philosophical topics of current interest can benefit from interaction with Asian philosophy. The topics are: the formation of the self as an ethical problem, the fluidity of the self, the ethcial nature of choice, the scope of ethics, the demands of ethics, and the nature of philosophy as an enterprise. For each of these topics he introduces the relevant Asian sources and shows how new consideration of them can enrich oru understanding of the very range and scope of ethical concern, and enhance our own ability to describe and account for importnat features of human life. In so doing, he builds a bridge acrss two important disciplines.Trade ReviewThroughout the book the reader is delighted by a consistently lucid, pleasant prose style. The book is as much a literary as a philosophical pleasure * MIND *Table of ContentsIntroduction Section 1:: The Formation of the Self Section 2:: The Fluidity of the Self Section 3:: Choice Section 4:: The Scope of Ethics Section 5:: The Demands of Ethics Section 6:: Philosophy as Communication Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisConfucius is one of the most influential figures--as historical individual and as symbol--in world history; and the Analects, the sayings attributed to Confucius and his disciples, is a classic of world literature. Nonetheless, how to understand both figure and text is constantly under dispute. Surprisingly, this volume is the first and only anthology on these topics in English. Here, contributors apply a variety of different methodologies (including philosophical, philological, and religious) and address a number of important topics, from Confucius and Western virtue ethics to Confucius'' attitude toward women to the historical composition of the text of the Analects. Scholars will appreciate the rigor of these essays, while students and beginners will find them accessible and engaging.Trade ReviewProviding a collection of sophisticated new essays in various perspectives on the primal father of Chinese thought and values, Confucius and the Analects: New Essays is a highly anticipated and worthwhile contribution to Confucian studies. This text will remain a standard work in the field that belongs on the desk of every dedicated sinologist. At the same time, it manifests an opening sally, and one hopes that this text will stir others in the field to respond to the issues raised in the common quest for a more authentic understanding and deeper appreciation of Confucius and his thought. * Journal of the American Academy of Religion *... may be the most important of several books published in this field during the past few years. Bryan W. Van Norden's rich but concise introduction is one of the most important resources available in this anthology. * The Journal of Asian Studies *... this volume preserves unity without sacrificing diversity and introduces readers to central issues in the study of early Chinese thought without imposing a uniform or systematic interpretation. * The Journal of Asian Studies *

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Book SynopsisThis book represents an ambitious attempt to remove the stumbling blocks that stand in the way of a dialogue between Chinese and world philosophy. Hansen''s main goal is to present a unified theory of Classical Chinese thought. What makes his attempt very different from innumerable previous efforts is that he uses Daoism, not Confucianism, as the central and unifying principle.Trade Reviewthe time is ripe for this sort of wide-ranging reappraisal ... the book will be a major factor in setting the tone and parameters of the debate ... for the next decade.Table of Contents1.: An Introduction with Work to Do 2.: The Context of Chinese Philosophy: Language and Theory of Language Part I The Positive Dao Period 3.: Confucius: The Baseline 4.: Mozi: Setting the Philosophical Agenda Part II The Antilanguage Period 5.: Mencius: The Establishment Strikes Back 6.: Laozi: Language and Society Part III The Analytic Period 7.: The School of Names: Linguistic Analysis in China 8.: Zhuangzi: Discriminating about Discriminating Part IV The Authoritarian Response 9.: Xunzi: Pragmatic Confucianism 10.: Han Feizi: The Ruler's Interpretation Notes: Glossary of Chinese Characters: Bibliography: Index:

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Book SynopsisThe Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way (Mulamadhyamakakarika), a second-century philosophical text by the Buddhist saint Nagarjuna, is the foundational text of Mahayana, the Buddhist school that predominates in Tibet, China, Mongolia, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. Nagarjuna is the founder of the Madhyamaka, or Middle Path, school of Mahayana. Jay Garfield''s magisterial translation (with commentary) of this seminal text (OUP, 1995) has established itself as the definitive edition in the English language. Empty Words is intended as a companion to Garfield''s translation to The Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way, providing additional background, argument and context. It considers the work of philosophical rivals, and sheds important light on the relation of Nagarjuna''s views to other Buddhist and non-Buddhist philosophical positions. Garfield is one of the leading scholars in this field, and this volume is the culmination of his work of the last decade.Trade ReviewEmpty Words represents a serious engagement with Buddhist philosophy and contributes to the exegesis of Madhyamaka and Yogacara thought. More importantly, however, I think that it contributes to the further development of Buddhist philosophy as a continuing project. * Philosophy East & West *Empty Words makes a worthwhile contribution to the philosophical study of Buddhism. * Philosophy East & West *

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Book SynopsisThis book provides the first English translation of Candrakirti''s commentary (ca. 6-7th century C.E.) on four illusions that prevent people from becoming Buddhas. Lang''s translation captures the clarity of Candrakirti''s arguments and the lively humour of the stories and examples he uses. Lang''s introduction explores the range of Candrakirti''s interests in religion, philosophy, psychology, politics, and erotic poetry.Trade ReviewLang has done an admirable job of translating an often difficult text into English. ... This book is a significant contribution to the field of Buddhist studies, particularly for those interested in Madhyamaka philosophy. * Religious Studies Review *

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Book SynopsisThanks to the international celebrity of the present Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhism is attracting more attention than at any time in its history. Although there have been numerous specialist studies of individual Tibetan texts, however, no scholarly work has as yet done justice to the rich variety of types of Tibetan discourse. This book fills this lacuna, bringing to bear the best methodological insights of the contemporary human sciences, and at the same time conveying to non-specialist readers an impression of the broad domain of Tibetan religious and philosophical thought. For over a millenium a Tibetan Buddhist intelligentsia produced a vast literature in which they explored the legacy of Indian (and to a lesser extent Chinese) Buddhism, often with exceptional rigor and creativity. At the same time, they also articulated perspectives and raised questions that reflected a distinctly Tibetan heritage, above and beyond the impetus derived from foreign sources. The views they generated,Trade Review"...a marvel of erudition....this is a fascinating and informative book."--Parabola "This is an unusual, stimulating piece of scholarship. It is exhaustively researched, linked deeply and broadly to the larger discussions circulating through Tibetan studies and the histories of religions. It is fair-minded in relation to its sources, critical of traditional historiography without being belligerent. Not only will scholars of Tibetan Buddhism benefit from this work, but also historians of Tibet generally, practitioners of tantric Buddhism, philosophers and mythologists should have this book on their shelves."--Transcendent Philosophy

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Book SynopsisNeo-Confucianism is the sophisticated revival of Confucian theorizing, responding to challenges from Buddhism and Daoism, which began around 1000 C.E. and came to dominate the Chinese intellectual scene for centuries thereafter. What would happen if we took Neo-Confucianism and its central ideal of sagehood seriously as contemporary philosophy? Sagehood represents supreme human virtue: a flawless, empathetic responsiveness to every situation in which one finds oneself. How could this be possible? How might one work toward such a state? According to Neo-Confucians, we should all strive to become sages, whether or not we ultimately achieve it. Taking neo-Confucianism seriously means to explore the ways that its theories of psychology, ethics, education, and politics engage with the views of contemporary philosophers. Angle''s book is therefore both an exposition of Neo-Confucian philosophy and a sustained dialogue with many leading Western thinkers--and especially with those philosophersTrade ReviewRarely is a work in comparative philosophy itself an original philosophical contribution. But that is the case in this instance in which Angle...brings Neo-Confucian philosophy into fruitful conversation with contemporary Western, virtue-ethics based analytic philosophers...The result is a presentation of Neo-Confucianism that advances it beyond any previous Neo-Confucian: Angle is the best in the line so far, at least among those writing or written about in English. * Robert Cummings Neville, The Review of Metaphysics *This book does an outstanding job of engaging a wide range of sources not only from different areas of philosophy (such as virtue ethics and Chinese philosophy) but also from the disciplines of religious studies and Asian studies. Indeed, one thing that makes this book worth reading is the way it puts new and interesting sources into conversation with one another in order to shed new light on the topics at hand. While this work is certainly recommended for specialists in comparative ethics and Chinese philosophy, it is also a resource for philosophers interested in learning how non-Western philosophy might potentially contribute to work in ethics today. * Erin Cline, Mind *Throughout the book, Angle makes good use of recent empirical studies.... His book is very accessible for readers with a wide variety of backgrounds. Philosophers with no background in Chinese thought will find challenging and interesting discussions of many issues relevant to their own work. Furthermore, I think this book is also quite appropriate to assign to strong undergraduate students. I recommend it highly. * Bryan W. van Norden, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *Table of ContentsDedication; Preface; Chronology and Dramatis Personae; ; PART I: KEYWORDS: ; 1 - Sheng/Sage; ; 1.1 "Sage" in the Confucian Tradition; ; 1.1.1 Historical Survey; ; 1.1.2 Neo-Confucianism; ; 1.1.3 Shengren versus Junzi ; 1.2 Western Ideals; ; 1.2.1 Greece; ; 1.2.2 Contemporary Saints and Heroes; ; 1.3 Concerns About Sagehood; ; 1.3.1 Is Sagehood Realistic ? ; 1.3.2 Is Sagehood Desirable? ; 2 - Li/Coherence; ; 2.1 First Steps; ; 2.2 Subjective and Objective; ; 2.2.1 Nature and Subjectivity; ; 2.2.2 Settled Coherence and Objectivity; ; 2.3 Li and Qi ; 2.4 One and Many; ; 2.5 Normativity and Creativity; ; 3 - De/Virtue; ; 3.1 Virtue as a Bridge Concept; ; 3.2 Early ; 3.3 Neo-Confucian ; 3.4 Final Thoughts; ; 4 - He/Harmony; ; 4.1 Early Classical Sources; ; 4.1.1 Complementary Differences; ; 4.1.2 Natural Patterns and Creativity; ; 4.2 The Zhongyong ("Doctrine of the Mean"); ; 4.3 Song Neo-Confucianism; ; 4.4 Wang Yangming: Summary and Initial Engagement; ; 4.4.1 Harmony, Coherence and One Body; ; 4.4.2 A Contemporary Example; ; 4.4.3 Politics; ; PART II: ETHICS AND PSYCHOLOGY; ; 5 - The Scope of Ethics: Dialogue with Slote and Murdoch; ; 5.1 Balance and Harmony in Slote's Agent-Based Ethics; ; 5.1.1 Caring, Humaneness (Ren ?), and Empathy; ; 5.1.2 Two Kinds of Balance; ; 5.1.3 The Motivation for Overall Balance; ; 5.1.4 Agent-Basing; ; 5.1.5 Reverence; ; 5.2 Murdoch on the Importance of a Transcendent Good; ; 5.2.1 Unity, Mystery, and Faith; ; 5.2.2 Selflessness; ; 5.3 Conclusion: The Scope of Ethics; ; 6 - Challenging Harmony: Consistency, Conflicts, and the Status Quo; ; 6.1 Nussbaum and Stohr Against "Harmony"; ; 6.2 Imagination; ; 6.3 Maximization; ; 6.4 Residue; ; 6.4.1 Complicating the Picture; ; 6.4.2 Grief versus Regret; ; 6.5 Dimensions of Dilemmas; ; 6.6 Emotional Vanilla?; ; 6.6.1 Myers's Challenge; ; 6.6.2 Neo-Confucians on Anger; ; 6.6.3 Conclusions; ; 7 - Sagely Ease and Ethical Perception; ; 7.1 Wang Yangming on Analects ; 2:4; the Centrality of "Commitment"; ; 7.1.1 Commitment in Classical Texts; ; 7.1.2 Commitment in Wang Yangming; ; 7.1.3 Deepening Our Commitment; ; 7.2 Connecting "Commitment" to "Unity of Knowledge and Action"; ; 7.3 Cua on commitment to realizing a harmonious world; ; 7.3.1 Active Moral Perception; ; 7.3.2 Creativity Revisited; ; 7.4 A Fuller Picture; ; 7.4.1 Murdoch on M and D; ; 7.4.2 Intrusions of the Self; ; 7.4.3 "True Vision Occasions Right Conduct"; ; PART III: EDUCATION AND POLITICS: ; 8 - Learning to Look for Harmony; ; 8.1. Stages of Ethical Education; ; 8.1.1 Lesser Learning; ; 8.1.2 Establishing a Commitment; ; 8.1.3 Matur(ing) Commitment; ; 8.2. Practices of self-improvement; ; 8.2.1 Spiritual Exercises; ; 8.2.2 Ritual; ; 8.2.3 Reading; ; 8.2.4 Attention - First Steps; ; 8.2.5 Reverence; ; 8.2.6 Further Implications; ; 8.2.7 Reverence and Coherence; ; 8.2.8 Self-Restraint and Quiet Sitting; ; 8.2.9 Conclusion; ; 9 - Engaging Practices; ; 9.1 The Nature of Commitments; ; 9.2 Stages and the Accessibility of Sagely Ideals; ; 9.3 Attention Revisited; ; 9.4 Imagination and Fantasy; ; 9.5 Dialogue; ; 9.6 Faith and Belief; ; 10 - The Political Problem; ; 10.1 Introduction: The Trouble with Sagehood; ; 10.2 Sage and Politics in Song-Qing Neo-Confucianism; ; 10.2.1 Sage-King ideal; ; 10.2.2 Limits and Guidance; ; 10.2.3 Ritual; 10.2.4 Institutions; ; 10.2.5 Vaulting Ambition: Rulers Who Think They are Sages; ; 10.3 Confucian Soft Authoritarianism; ; 10.4 Separating the Moral from the Political?; ; 10.4.1 Yu Yingshi and Xu Fuguan; ; 10.4.2 Mou Zongsan; ; 11 - Sages and Politics: A Way Forward; ; 11.1 Perfection and Fallibility; ; 11.2 Reverence and Ritual; ; 11.3 Perfectionism and Institutions; ; 11.3.1 Moderate Perfectionism; ; 11.3.2 Confucian State Perfectionism; ; 11.3.3 Specificity and Particularism; ; 11.4 Participation; ; 11.4.1 Three Arguments; ; 11.4.2 Implications and Objections; ; 11.5 Laws and Rights as a System of Second Resort; ; 11.5.1 Rule by Law; ; 11.5.2 Law and Morality; ; 11.5.3 A Confucian Approach; ; Conclusion: The Future of Contemporary Confucianisms; Bibliography; Index Locorum; General Index

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Book SynopsisSwami Vivekananda, the nineteenth-century Hindu monk who introduced Vedanta to the West, is undoubtedly one of modern India''s most influential philosophers. Unfortunately, his philosophy has too often been interpreted through reductive hermeneutic lenses. Typically, scholars have viewed him either as a modern-day exponent of Sankara''s Advaita Vedanta or as a Neo-Vedantin influenced more by Western ideas than indigenous Indian traditions. In Swami Vivekananda''s Vedantic Cosmopolitanism, Swami Medhananda rejects these prevailing approaches to offer a new interpretation of Vivekananda''s philosophy, highlighting its originality, contemporary relevance, and cross-cultural significance. Vivekananda, the book argues, is best understood as a cosmopolitan Vedantin who developed novel philosophical positions through creative dialectical engagement with both Indian and Western thinkers.Inspired by his guru Sri Ramakrishna, Vivekananda reconceived Advaita Vedanta as a nonsectarian, life-affirmTrade ReviewI conclude that Medhananda has done an excellent job presenting the thought of Vivekananda and locating it in the debates of both his Indian and British contemporaries. * Peter Forrest, International Journal for Philosophy of Religion *Swami Medhananda's most recent book promises to revolutionize the study of the thought of Swami Vivekananda. In this volume, Medhananda, among other things, argues that Swami Vivekananda, like his revered guru, Sri Ramakrishna, was a highly original thinker who did not simply restate Advaita Vedānta, but put forth a radically new model of religious pluralism whose implications are not yet fully grasped or appreciated by philosophers of religion today... Swami Medhananda's is the first which has been attentive to the chronology of Swami Vivekananda's writings and lectures. When these materials are viewed chronologically, one can see an unfolding of Swami Vivekananda's thought in a way that is not otherwise possible. * Jeffery D. Long, Samvit *In his lucid and accessible book, Swami Medhananda expounds Vivekananda's philosophy, locating it in both the Indian and Western intellectual debates, and establishing his originality and enduring relevance....Medhananda is a meticulous scholar, engaging not merely with those in the canon, such as Kant and John Stuart Mill, but many other philosophers, such as William Hamilton and Herbert Spencer, who are not as widely read as they should be....Medhananda exhibits Vivekananda as an original epistemologist anticipating later trends....In the last section...Medhananda makes a good case that contemporary epistemologists of religion should take note of Vivekananda's contributions....Medhananda has done an excellent job presenting the thought of Vivekananda and locating it in the debates of both his Indian and British contemporaries. Even when his philosophy is open to objection it is original and thought-provoking. * Peter Forrest, University of New England, Australia *Medhananda also demonstrates that Vivekananda makes vital contributions to current philosophical debates...He offers an original solution to the hard problem of consciousness. * J. M. Fritzman, CHOICE *Swami Medhananda's Swami Vivekananda's Vedantic Cosmopolitanism (Oxford University Press) is an extraordinary achievement. A brilliant, deep and searching exploration of Swami Vivekananda, this may be the best book in English on philosophical debates in modern Hinduism, and philosophy of religion more generally. * Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Princeton University *This is the first, and by far the best, analytical study of the original philosophy of Swami Vivekananda—who was not just a preacher, mystic, and orator, but a critical Kantian Vedāntist. Meticulously engaging with cutting-edge twenty-first century epistemological debates on testimony of spiritual experiences and with late nineteenth-century metaphysical debates about the relation between God and the world, this work establishes Vivekananda as a major modern systematic philosopher and perhaps the first 'fusion philosopher' of the world. Combining profound textual scholarship with lucid, argument-rich writing, it should become a must-read textbook of world philosophy. * Arindam Chakrabarti, Stony Brook University *In Swami Vivekananda's Vedāntic Cosmopolitanism, Medhananda brilliantly spearheads a fresh appreciation of Vivekananda, a key member in a group of extremely insightful and innovative Indian philosophers active in the eve of Independence. Medhananda challenges the simplistic classification of these thinkers as 'Neo-Hindu' or 'Neo-Vedāntic,' demonstrating instead how Vivekananda is a pioneering voice in cosmopolitan philosophy, a creative intellectual who develops new philosophical theories inspired by both Indian and European materials. * Jonardon Ganeri, University of Toronto *Swami Vivekananda was not only an enormously influential religious leader; he was one of the pre-eminent Vedānta philosophers of the Indian renaissance. He offered a vision of Vedānta continuous with its classical history and in dialogue with modernity, and in doing so demonstrated how Indian philosophy could be pursued in a cosmopolitan voice. Swami Medhananda presents us with the first detailed exploration of Vivekananda's entire philosophical program, setting it both in the context of classical Indian philosophy, and in the context of Indian renaissance thought. He shows that Vivekananda has a great deal to contribute to contemporary debates in the philosophy of religion and metaphysics. This book is erudite, clear, and compelling. It is essential reading for anyone who cares about global philosophy or religion. * Jay Garfield, University of Melbourne *Medhananda's work is one of the very few that locates Vivekananda in the context of important intellectual trends of his time and examines his engagement with thinkers that include Immanuel Kant, Charles Darwin, John Stuart Mill, Herbert Spencer, and others...This is a welcome contribution to Vivekananda studies and Medhananda, immersed in both traditional and Western learning, is aptly qualified for such work...they certainly contribute to our better understanding of his Vedāntic commitments in a global intellectual context. * Anantanand Rambachan, Philosophy East & West *The book is well-written and valuable to the contemporary understanding of Vivekananda's philosophy. It traverses vast scholarly literature from diverse philosophical schools, both classical Indian and modern western. * A. Raghuramaraju, Journal of World Philosophies *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Swami Vivekananda as an Immersive Cosmopolitan Philosopher PART ONE: Integral Advaita Chapter 1 The Making of an Integral Advaitin: Vivekananda's Intellectual and Spiritual Tutelage under Sri Ramakrishna Chapter 2 "The Deification of the World": The Metaphysics and Ethics of Oneness in Vivekananda's Integral Advaita Chapter 3 Grounding Religious Cosmopolitanism: Three Phases in the Evolution of Vivekananda's Doctrine of the Harmony of Religions PART TWO: The Experiential Basis of Religion Chapter 4 "The Science of Religion": Vivekananda's Critique of Scientism and His Defense of the Scientific Credentials of Religion Chapter 5 Perceiving God: A Vivekanandan Argument for the Epistemic Value of Supersensuous Perception Chapter 6 Addressing Philosophical Challenges to Supersensuous Perception PART THREE: Faith and Reason Chapter 7 From Agnosticism to

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Book SynopsisThe introduction of Greek philosophy into the Muslim world left an indelible mark on Islamic intellectual history. Philosophical discourse became a constant element in even traditionalist Islamic sciences. However, Aristotelian metaphysics gave rise to doctrines about God and the universe that were found highly objectionable by a number of Muslim theologians, among whom the fourteenth-century scholar Ibn Taymiyya stood foremost. Ibn Taymiyya, one of the greatest and most prolific thinkers in medieval Islam, held Greek logic responsible for the `heretical'' metaphysical conclusions reached by Islamic philosophers, theologians, mystics, and others. He therefore set out to refute philosophical logic, a task which culminated in one of the most devastating attacks ever levelled against the logical system upheld by the early Greeks, the later commentators, and their Muslim followers. His argument is grounded in an empirical approach that in many respects prefigures the philosophies of the BTrade Review'It is to the credit of Professor Wael B. Hallaq ... to have provided the English-speaking public with such a competent and readable translation of a key text of Islamic civilization. That the work carries the insignia of Clarendon Press, Oxford is a further testimony of its enduring value. Apart from students of Muslim thought, specialists in philosophies and historians of logic are sure to benefit from this sterling effort. Indeed, it should prove to be of equal interest to all the critics, Muslims or otherwise, of modern science.' S. Parvez Manzoor, Muslim World Book Review 15, no. 2, 1995Hallaq has performed a valuable service in carrying out this translation...he has produced a clear, judicious and attractive version...This is in every way an excellent book. Hallaq has written what will surely be the standard work in the area for some time to come. * Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. *A major survey of Ibn Taymiyyah and logic ... Hallaq'a volume is the ideal introduction to the whole field of Ibn Taymiyyah, logic and the philosophers ... a fluent, scholarly and well-organised translation ... a fresh and attractive addition to the growing corpus of literature on Islamic logic and its complexities. * Journal of Semitic Studies *This work, Professor Hallaq's most recent, is almost unique to modern studies of Ibn Taymiyah and for this readon deserves our attention. Hallaq has proved an enormously capable writer in his field. ... His profound grasp of the discussions in medieval Arabic works on logic is evident here and in that regard it is an important book. * Mamluk Studies Review, 1, 1997 *Table of ContentsPart 1 Introduction: Ibn Taymiyya's opponents and his refutation of the logicians; sources of the critique; Ibn Taymiyya's discourse; the Arabic texts; notes on the translation. Part 2 "Jahd al-Qariha fi Tajrid al-Nasiha": concerning the logicians' doctrine that no concept can be formed except by means of definition; concerning the logicians' doctrine that definition leads to the conception of things; concerning the logicians' doctrine that no judgement may be known except by means of syllogism; concerning the logicians' doctrine that syllogism or demonstration leads to the certain knowledge of judgements.

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Book SynopsisThe Lost Age of Reason deals with a fascinating and rich episode in the history of philosophy, one from which those who are interested in the nature of modernity and its global origins have a great deal to learn. Early modernity in India consists in the formation of a new philosophical self, one which makes it possible meaningfully to conceive of oneself as engaging the ancient and the alien in conversation. The ancient texts are now not thought of as authorities to which one must defer, but regarded as the source of insight in the company of which one pursues the quest for truth. This new attitude implies a change in the conception of one''s duties towards the past. After reconstructing the historical intellectual context in detail, and developing a suitable methodological framework, Ganeri reviews work on the concept of knowledge, the nature of evidence, the self, the nature of the categories, mathematics, realism, and a new language for philosophy. A study of early modern philosophyTrade Review[The Lost Age of Reason] is a book that Indologists and students of Indian philosophy should read with great interest and cannot afford to ignore.Table of ContentsPART I: INDIA EXPANDING; PART II: TEXT AND METHOD; PART III: THE POSSIBILITY OF INQUIRY; PART IV : THE REAL WORLD; PART V: A NEW LANGUAGE FOR PHILOSOPHY

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Book SynopsisScholars have long been intrigued by the Buddha''s defining action (karma) as intention. This book explores systematically how intention and agency were interpreted in all genres of early Theravada thought. It offers a philosophical exploration of intention and motivation as they are investigated in Buddhist moral psychology. At stake is how we understand karma, the nature of moral experience, and the possibilities for freedom. In contrast to many studies that assimilate Buddhist moral thinking to Western theories of ethics, the book attends to distinctively Buddhist ways of systematizing and theorizing their own categories. Arguing that meaning is a product of the explanatory systems used to explore it, the book pays particular attention to genre and to the 5th-century commentator Buddhaghosa''s guidance on how to read Buddhist texts. The book treats all branches of the Pali canon (the Tipitaka, that is, the Suttas, the Abhidhamma, and the Vinaya), as well as narrative sources (the DhTrade ReviewThis book will be a major contribution to scholarship in Buddhist Studies, as well as to the discipline of moral psychology more generally. The scholarship is impeccable, the attention to canonical material and secondary literature in Buddhist Studies as well as to relevant work in Western philosophy and social theory is meticulous. The book is rich in hermeneutical and philosophical insight, carefully argued, and written with uncommon perspicuity, grace and even humor I would not be surprised if it were to be recognized as one of the most significant recent contributions to Buddhist philosophy. * Jay L. Garfield, Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Professor of Humanities, Yale-NUS College *Throughout this original, humane, and often beautiful exploration of Buddhist moral thinking, Maria Heim allows herself to be taught and guided by the great Buddhist thinker Buddhaghosa about how to read Buddhist texts well and how to think reflectively about the nature of a moral person. The result is that we are introduced to a Buddhaghosa that we have not met before: an astute humanist always alert to the complexities of the moral life, and a contemporary with us, as it were, offering us fresh resources for our own efforts to make sense of ourselves as moral persons * Charles Hallisey, Harvard Divinity School *Table of ContentsTable of Contents ; Abbreviations ; Introduction ; Chapter One: Constructing Experience: Intention in the Suttas ; Chapter Two: The Work of Intention: Mental Life in the Abhidhamma ; Chapter Three: Culpability and Disciplinary Culture in the Vinaya ; Chapter Four: Making Actions Intelligible: Intention and Mind in Stories ; Conclusion ; Bibliography ; Notes ; Index

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Book SynopsisThe nature and reality of self is a subject of increasing prominence among Western philosophers of mind and cognitive scientists. It has also been central to Indian and Tibetan philosophical traditions for over two thousand years. It is time to bring the rich resources of these traditions into the contemporary debate about the nature of self. This volume is the first of its kind. Leading philosophical scholars of the Indian and Tibetan traditions join with leading Western philosophers of mind and phenomenologists to explore issues about consciousness and selfhood from these multiple perspectives. Self, No Self? is not a collection of historical or comparative essays. It takes problem-solving and conceptual and phenomenological analysis as central to philosophy. The essays mobilize the argumentative resources of diverse philosophical traditions to address issues about the self in the context of contemporary philosophy and cognitive science. Self, No Self? will be essential reading for pTrade Reviewa welcome product of a rare endeavor: the attempt to bring insights from diverse schools of thought to bear on a question of deep philosophical interest ... * Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *Table of Contents1. Introduction ; 2. The Who and How of Experience ; 3. The Experiential Self: objections and clarifications ; 4. Nirvana and Ownerless consciousness ; 5. Self and Subjectivity: A Middle Way Approach ; 6. Self-No-Self? Memory and Reflexive Awareness ; 7. Subjectivity, Selfhood and the Use of the Word 'I' ; 8. 'I am of the nature of Seeing': Phenomenological Reflections on the Indian Notion of Witness-Consciousness ; 9. Situating the Elusive Self of Advaita Vedanta ; 10. Enacting the Self: Buddhist and Enactivist Approaches to the Emergence of the Self ; 11. Radical self-awareness ; 12. Buddhas as Zombies: A Buddhist Reduction of Subjectivity ; Notes on Contributors ; Index

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Book SynopsisNagarjuna''s Vigrahavyavartani is an essential work of Madhyamaka Buddhist philosophical literature. Written in an accessible question-and-answer style, it contains Nagarjuna''s replies to criticisms of his philosophy of the Middle Way. The Vigrahavyavartani has been widely cited both in canonical literature and in recent scholarship; it has remained a central text in India, Tibet, China, and Japan, and has attracted the interest of greater and greater numbers of Western readers.In The Dispeller of Disputes, Jan Westerhoff offers a clear new translation of the Vigrahavyavartani, taking current philological research and all available editions into account, and adding his own insightful philosophical commentary on the text. Crucial manuscript material has been discovered since the earlier translations were written, and Westerhoff draws on this material to produce a study reflecting the most up-to-date research on this text. In his nuanced and incisive commentary, he explains Nagarjuna''sTrade Review...Westerhoff's commentary is lucid, philosophically engaging, and included ample references for the serious student of Indian or Western philosophy. * Karin Meyers, Center for Buddhist Studies *Table of ContentsBIBLIOGRAPHY

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Book SynopsisThe doctrine of the two truths - a conventional truth and an ultimate truth - is central to Buddhist metaphysics and epistemology. The two truths (or two realities), the distinction between them, and the relation between them is understood variously in different Buddhist schools; it is of special importance to the Madhyamaka school. One theory is articulated with particular force by Nagarjuna (2nd C CE) who famously claims that the two truths are identical to one another and yet distinct. One of the most influential interpretations of Nagarjuna''s difficult doctrine derives from the commentary of Candrakarti (6th C CE). In view of its special soteriological role, much attention has been devoted to explaining the nature of the ultimate truth; less, however, has been paid to understanding the nature of conventional truth, which is often described as deceptive, illusion, or truth for fools. But because of the close relation between the two truths in Madhyamaka, conventional truth also demTrade Reviewa high-quality, engaging work, which is accessible to undergraduates and of interest to specialists. The Cowherds are to be commended for having provided a home on the range for anyonereally, anyoneinterested to understand a philosophically significant, Buddhist approach to the nature of truth. * Jonathan C. Gold, SOPHIA *Table of ContentsACKNOWLEDGMENTS; PREFACE; GUY NEWLAND AND TOM J F TILLEMANS; JAY L GARFIELD; SONAM THAKCHOE; GUY MARTIN NEWLAND; JAY L GARFIELD AND SONAM THAKCHOE; GEORGES DREYFUS; GEORGES DREYFUS AND JAY L GARFIELD; GRAHAM PRIEST, MARK SIDERITS AND TOM J F TILLEMANS; TOM J F TILLEMANS; MARK SIDERITS; BRONWYN FINNIGAN AND KOJI TANAKA; JAN WESTERHOFF; GRAHAM PRIEST; BRONWYN FINNIGAN AND KOJI TANAKA; REFERENCES AND ABBREVIATIONS; INDEX

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Book SynopsisThere is no doubt that the wealth of new data and ideas offered in this exquisite book provides the deepest insights yet into the contemporary religious world of Jain laity. It will serve for some time as a paradigmatic monograph for future empirical studies of Jain religious life. --Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies Jains in the World is a significant and welcome ethnography of contemporary Jains in western India by the most prominent scholar of Jainism in North America. This book is a must for scholars of South Asian religions and will provide scholars of Hindu traditions fine grounding both in a central dialectic of Jain thought and in contemporary Jain praxis. --International Journal of Hindu Studies A valuable addition to the literature on Jainism as a living faith. Since it has the additional merits of being clearly written, attractively illustrated, and free of unnecessary theoretical baggage, it should serve as a good introduction to this tradition for collTrade Reviewa welcome and vitally important contribution to the burgeoning literature in the field of Jain studies. * Jeffery D. Long, Journal of the American Academy of Religion *As a clear, detailed, rich, and accessible account of the life of a community, Jains in the World is unsurpassed in the field of Jain studies, and stands as a fine example of ethnographic writing in the broader fields of anthropology and the study of religion. * Jeffery D. Long, Journal of the American Academy of Religion *Table of ContentsNote on Language, Transliteration, and Names ; Hymn to Pancasar Parsvanath ; Introduction: On the Occasion of the Blessed Installation of the Lord ; 1. The Ideology of the Path to Liberation ; 2. Jains and Jainism in Patan ; 3. Going to the Temple: How to Worship God ; 4. Gifting and Grace: Patterns of Lay-Mendicant Interaction ; 5. Holy Asceticism ; 6. Remembrance and Celebration: The Jain Religious Year ; 7. Ideologies and Realms of Value ; Hymn to Pancasar Parsvanath ; Glossary ; Notes ; Bibliography ; Index

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Book SynopsisNeo-Confucianism is the sophisticated revival of Confucian theorizing, responding to challenges from Buddhism and Daoism, which began around 1000 C.E. and came to dominate the Chinese intellectual scene for centuries thereafter. What would happen if we took Neo-Confucianism and its central ideal of sagehood seriously as contemporary philosophy? Sagehood represents supreme human virtue: a flawless, empathetic responsiveness to every situation in which one finds oneself. How could this be possible? How might one work toward such a state? According to Neo-Confucians, we should all strive to become sages, whether or not we ultimately achieve it. Taking neo-Confucianism seriously means to explore the ways that its theories of psychology, ethics, education, and politics engage with the views of contemporary philosophers. Angle''s book is therefore both an exposition of Neo-Confucian philosophy and a sustained dialogue with many leading Western thinkers--and especially with those philosophersTrade ReviewRarely is a work in comparative philosophy itself an original philosophical contribution. But that is the case in this instance in which Angle...brings Neo-Confucian philosophy into fruitful conversation with contemporary Western, virtue-ethics based analytic philosophers...The result is a presentation of Neo-Confucianism that advances it beyond any previous Neo-Confucian: Angle is the best in the line so far, at least among those writing or written about in English. * Robert Cummings Neville, The Review of Metaphysics *This book does an outstanding job of engaging a wide range of sources not only from different areas of philosophy (such as virtue ethics and Chinese philosophy) but also from the disciplines of religious studies and Asian studies. Indeed, one thing that makes this book worth reading is the way it puts new and interesting sources into conversation with one another in order to shed new light on the topics at hand. While this work is certainly recommended for specialists in comparative ethics and Chinese philosophy, it is also a resource for philosophers interested in learning how non-Western philosophy might potentially contribute to work in ethics today. * Erin Cline, Mind *Throughout the book, Angle makes good use of recent empirical studies.... His book is very accessible for readers with a wide variety of backgrounds. Philosophers with no background in Chinese thought will find challenging and interesting discussions of many issues relevant to their own work. Furthermore, I think this book is also quite appropriate to assign to strong undergraduate students. I recommend it highly. * Bryan W. van Norden, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *Table of ContentsDedication ; Preface ; Chronology and Dramatis Personae ; PART I: KEYWORDS ; 1 - Sheng/Sage ; 1.1 "Sage" in the Confucian Tradition ; 1.1.1 Historical Survey ; 1.1.2 Neo-Confucianism ; 1.1.3 Shengren versus Junzi ; 1.2 Western Ideals ; 1.2.1 Greece ; 1.2.2 Contemporary Saints and Heroes ; 1.3 Concerns About Sagehood ; 1.3.1 Is Sagehood Realistic? ; 1.3.2 Is Sagehood Desirable? ; 2 - Li/Coherence ; 2.1 First Steps ; 2.2 Subjective and Objective ; 2.2.1 Nature and Subjectivity ; 2.2.2 Settled Coherence and Objectivity ; 2.3 Li and Qi ; 2.4 One and Many ; 2.5 Normativity and Creativity ; 3 - De/Virtue ; 3.1 Virtue as a Bridge Concept ; 3.2 Early "De" ; 3.3 Neo-Confucian "De" ; 3.4 Final Thoughts ; 4 - He/Harmony ; 4.1 Early Classical Sources ; 4.1.1 Complementary Differences ; 4.1.2 Natural Patterns and Creativity ; 4.2 The Zhongyong ("Doctrine of the Mean") ; 4.3 Song Neo-Confucianism ; 4.4 Wang Yangming: Summary and Initial Engagement ; 4.4.1 Harmony, Coherence and One Body ; 4.4.2 A Contemporary Example ; 4.4.3 Politics ; PART II: ETHICS AND PSYCHOLOGY ; 5 - The Scope of Ethics: Dialogue with Slote and Murdoch ; 5.1 Balance and Harmony in Slote's Agent-Based Ethics ; 5.1.1 Caring, Humaneness (Ren), and Empathy ; 5.1.2 Two Kinds of Balance ; 5.1.3 The Motivation for Overall Balance ; 5.1.4 Agent-Basing ; 5.1.5 Reverence ; 5.2 Murdoch on the Importance of a Transcendent Good ; 5.2.1 Unity, Mystery, and Faith ; 5.2.2 Selflessness ; 5.3 Conclusion: The Scope of Ethics ; 6 - Challenging Harmony: Consistency, Conflicts, and the Status Quo ; 6.1 Nussbaum and Stohr Against "Harmony" ; 6.2 Imagination ; 6.3 Maximization ; 6.4 Residue ; 6.4.1 Complicating the Picture ; 6.4.2 Grief versus Regret ; 6.5 Dimensions of Dilemmas ; 6.6 Emotional Vanilla? ; 6.6.1 Myers's Challenge ; 6.6.2 Neo-Confucians on Anger ; 6.6.3 Conclusions ; 7 - Sagely Ease and Ethical Perception ; 7.1 Wang Yangming on Analects 2:4; the Centrality of "Commitment" ; 7.1.1 Commitment in Classical Texts ; 7.1.2 Commitment in Wang Yangming ; 7.1.3 Deepening Our Commitment ; 7.2 Connecting "Commitment" to "Unity of Knowledge and Action" ; 7.3 Cua on commitment to realizing a harmonious world ; 7.3.1 Active Moral Perception ; 7.3.2 Creativity Revisited ; 7.4 A Fuller Picture ; 7.4.1 Murdoch on M and D ; 7.4.2 Intrusions of the Self ; 7.4.3 "True Vision Occasions Right Conduct" ; PART III: EDUCATION AND POLITICS ; 8 - Learning to Look for Harmony ; 8.1 Stages of Ethical Education ; 8.1.1 Lesser Learning ; 8.1.2 Establishing a Commitment ; 8.1.3 Matur(ing) Commitment ; 8.2. Practices of self-improvement ; 8.2.1 Spiritual Exercises ; 8.2.2 Ritual ; 8.2.3 Reading ; 8.2.4 Attention - First Steps ; 8.2.5 Reverence ; 8.2.6 Further Implications ; 8.2.7 Reverence and Coherence ; 8.2.8 Self-Restraint and Quiet Sitting ; 8.2.9 Conclusion ; 9 - Engaging Practices ; 9.1 The Nature of Commitments ; 9.2 Stages and the Accessibility of Sagely Ideals ; 9.3 Attention Revisited ; 9.4 Imagination and Fantasy ; 9.5 Dialogue ; 9.6 Faith and Belief ; 10 - The Political Problem ; 10.1 Introduction: The Trouble with Sagehood ; 10.2 Sage and Politics in Song-Qing Neo-Confucianism ; 10.2.1 Sage-King ideal ; 10.2.2 Limits and Guidance ; 10.2.3 Ritual ; 10.2.4 Institutions ; 10.2.5 Vaulting Ambition: Rulers Who Think They are Sages ; 10.3 Confucian Soft Authoritarianism ; 10.4 Separating the Moral from the Political? ; 10.4.1 Yu Yingshi and Xu Fuguan ; 10.4.2 Mou Zongsan ; 11 - Sages and Politics: A Way Forward ; 11.1 Perfection and Fallibility ; 11.2 Reverence and Ritual ; 11.3 Perfectionism and Institutions ; 11.3.1 Moderate Perfectionism ; 11.3.2 Confucian State Perfectionism ; 11.3.3 Specificity and Particularism ; 11.4 Participation ; 11.4.1 Three Arguments ; 11.4.2 Implications and Objections ; 11.5 Laws and Rights as a System of Second Resort ; 11.5.1 Rule by Law ; 11.5.2 Law and Morality ; 11.5.3 A Confucian Approach ; Conclusion: The Future of Contemporary Confucianisms ; Bibliography ; Index Locorum ; General Index

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Book SynopsisPamela D. Winfield offers a fascinating juxtaposition and comparison of the thoughts of two pre-modern Japanese Buddhist masters on the role of imagery in the enlightenment experience. Kukai (774-835) believed that real and imagined forms were indispensable to his new esoteric Mikkyo method for ''''becoming a Buddha in this very body'''' (sokushin jobutsu), yet he deconstructed the significance of such imagery in his poetic and doctrinal works. Conversely, Dogen (1200-1253) believed that ''''just sitting'''' in Zen meditation without any visual props or mental elaborations could lead one to realize that ''''this very mind is Buddha'''' (sokushin zebutsu), but he too privileged select Zen icons as worthy of veneration. In considering the nuanced views of Kukai and Dogen, Icons and Iconoclasm in Japanese Buddhism updates previous comparisons of their oeuvres and engages their texts and images together for the first time in two decades. Winfield liberates them from sectarian scholarship, Trade ReviewAmbitious and scholarly... Winfield guides the reader with apparent ease... Icons and Iconoclasm feels like the start of a much broader discussion, not just of art in a conventional sense but also of how we might create, interpret, and inhabit ritual space. * Buddhadharma: The Practioner's Quarterly *Delightfully instantiates the converging trajectories of art history and Buddhist studies. At this intersection, each is more deeply informed by the other, and both are enriched. Winfield's study not only demonstrates the benefits of this conjunction of fields, but shows that no longer can Buddhist studies ignore art history, nor can art history remain uninformed by Buddhist thought. * Richard K. Payne, Dean and Yehan Numata Professor of Japanese Buddhist Studies, Institute of Buddhist Studies *Pamela Winfield has written a very interesting and exciting book examining two major Japanese Buddhist thinkers. By focusing on the visual elements in their works in addition to the prominent texts of these giants, Winfield establishes a creative and constructive contrast between Kukai's 'unitive model' stressing non-dual union between the practitioner and ultimate reality and Dogen's 'purgative process' that highlights the individual's own experience of casting aside all distractions. * Steven Heine, editor of Dogen: Textual and Historical Studies *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; Chapter One: The Art of Enlightenment ; Chapter Two: Mikkyo Space, Zen Time ; Chapter Three: Kukai on the Art of the Ultimate ; Chapter Four: Dogen on the Art of Engaging ; Chapter Five: Concluding Remarks ; Notes ; Glossary ; Bibliography ; Index

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Book SynopsisThough many practitioners of yoga and meditation are familiar with the Sri Cakra yantra, few fully understand the depth of meaning in this representation of the cosmos. Even fewer have been exposed to the practices of mantra and puja (worship) associated with it. André Padoux, with Roger Orphe-Jeanty, offers the first English translation of the Yoginihrdaya, a seminal Hindu tantric text dating back to the 10th or 11th century CE. The Yoginihrdaya discloses to initiates the secret of the Heart of the Yogini, or the supreme Reality: the divine plane where the Goddess (Tripurasundari, or Consciousness itself) manifests her power and glory. As Padoux demonstrates, the Yoginihrdaya is not a philosophical treatise aimed at expounding particular metaphysical tenets. It aims to show a way towards liberation, or, more precisely, to a tantric form of liberation in this life---jivanmukti, which grants both liberation from the fetters of the world and domination over it.Trade ReviewThis long-awaited English-language edition of Andre Padoux's classic study and translation of the Yoginihrdaya is a window onto a remarkably sophisticated ritual and metaphysical system. Presented in a clear and engaging format, it is an ideal introduction and guide to the world of Hindu Tantra. * David Gordon White, J. F. Rowny Professor of Comparative Religion, University of California, Santa Barbara *Table of ContentsNote on the Transcription and Pronunciation of Sanskrit ; Preface ; Introduction ; Chapter 1, Encounter in the Cakra - Cakrasadketa ; Chapter 2, Encounter in the Mantra - Mantrasadketa ; Chapter 3, Encounter in the Puja - Pujasamketa ; Notes ; Bibliography ; Index

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Book SynopsisClinical psychologist Dr. Michael Sapiro''s deep dive into psychedelic psychotherapy-what it is and how it can help heal and transform physiological, psychological, social, and spiritual ills.How does psychedelic therapy benefit the individual, our communities, and specialized groups like first responders and combat veterans? And what actually occurs in a session, in group settings, and on retreats that make this therapy so revolutionary? And is this treatment right for everyone, and if not, why, and who would be excluded?TruthMedicine explores these topics from a heart-centered, integrative approach, looking at how psychedelic psychotherapy addresses healing and transformation on a variety of levels, including the physiological, psychological, social, and spiritual. Grounded in research and experience, Truth Medicine answers frequently asked questions, walks readers through the most commonly used medications (Ketamine, 5meodmt, psilocybin, as well as MDMA, Ayahuasca, and LSD), treatment, and shares case studies that are inspiring, engaging, and raw, for a go-to guide for anyone looking to heal.

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Book SynopsisIn this companion volume to The Three Pillars of Zen, Kapleau establishes guidelines for Western practitioners of Zen Buddhism, offering appealing, simple answers to the questions Westerners most often ask.  Among the topics discussed in this informative, user-friendly book: 'Transcendental Meditation: Who Transcends What?', 'Can I Practice Zen and Be a Good Jew (or Catholic)?', 'Reading About Enlightenment Is Like Scratching an Itchy Foot Through Your Shoe,' and 'Meditation Is an Escape--What Are You Doing to Help Society?' Kapleau's eloquence, humor, and authority make this an indispensible handbook for understanding Zen in the Western world.

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Book SynopsisThe Tao of Teaching is for teachers, parents, and any others who are looking for a book of wisdom on how to deal with people, especially children, in a learning environment. The Tao of Teaching is written in the same style as the Tao Te Ching, and gives examples from the classrooms of three present-day teachers whom the author feels embody Taoist wisdom and student-centered educational methods. The Tao of Teaching is a labor of love, containing many important insights by a talented and respected professional whose emphasis is on the students' contribution in a learning environment, whatever the context.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisBuddhism and Postmodernity is a response to some of the questions that have emerged in the process of Buddhism''s encounters with modernity and the West. Jin Y. Park broadly outlines these questions as follows: first, why are the interpretations and evaluations of Buddhism so different in Europe (in the nineteenth century), in the United States (in the twentieth century), and in traditional Asia; second, why does Zen Buddhism, which offers a radically egalitarian vision, maintain a strongly authoritarian leadership; and third, what ethical paradigm can be drawn from the Buddhist-postmodern form of philosophy? Park argues that, as unrelated as these questions may seem, the issues that have generated them are related to perennial philosophical themes of identity, institutional power, and ethics, respectively. Each of these themes constitutes one section of Buddhism and Postmodernity. Park discusses the three issues in the book through the exploration of the Buddhist concepts of self and others, language and thinking, and universality and particularities. Most of this discussion is drawn from the East Asian Buddhist traditions of Zen and Huayan Buddhism in connection with the Continental philosophies of postmodernism, hermeneutics, and deconstruction. Self-critical from both the Buddhist and Western philosophical perspectives, Buddhism and Postmodernity points the reader toward a new understanding of Buddhist philosophy and offers a Buddhist-postmodern ethical paradigm that challenges normative ethics of metaphysical traditions.Trade ReviewJin Y. Park’s work is a major achievement of phenomenological hermeneutics. It is indeed of exceptional quality which is capacious and deep in scope, lucid and erudite in style, and poignant and engaging in argumentation. Park is at ease with surfing the ineffable and seemingly contradictory expressions of Zen Buddhism and with scaling the rugged terrains of postmodern thought. Park’s most creative, incisive, and discerning moments are found in her very attempt to transversalize the borders of Eastern Buddhism and Western philosophy both modern and postmodern. To put it simply, it is intercultural and interdisciplinary. I find that her appropriation of postmodern philosophy in Merleau-Ponty, Heidegger, Derrida, and Lyotard is judicious and discriminating. Among the notable features of Park’s work is a singularly prominent place of Korean Buddhism, the 'Zen hermeneutics' of language, silence and violence, and most importantly her ambitious and promising vision of creating a new paradigm of ethics at the crossroads of Buddhism and postmodern philosophy. -- Hwa Yol Jung, Moravian CollegeBuddhism and Postmodernity is a fascinating journey into the field of Buddhist philosophy. Jin Park skillfully negotiates a variety of discourses including Buddhist studies, feminism, and postmodernism. She masterfully unmasks prejudices about Buddhist traditions and their alleged lack of propensity for systematic thought, and presents a convincing case for a Zen ethics by demonstrating affinities between Zen and deconstruction. Her mastery of the material is impressive, her sketch of Zen philosophy visionary. For everyone with interest in Buddhism and/or postmodernism, Buddhism and Postmodernity is a must-read. -- Gereon Kopf, Luther College...Admirably concise and yet complex... Professor Park carefully exemplifies her own conclusions regarding the centrifugal potentials of Buddhist thought and practice by offering us clearly presented prospects on a yet-to-come ethics of non-dual interdependence. The wide ambitions of Buddhism and Postmodernity are skillfully threaded together through recurring contrasts of centripetal/centrifugal and hermeneutical/existential dynamics at play both historically and philosophically, in the West and its encounters with Buddhism, and in the global transit from modernity to postmodernity . . . Buddhism and Postmodernity raises important questions, opening promising avenues for further conversation. * Sophia: International Journal of Philosophy and Traditions, November 2009 *The dialogue between Buddhism and postmodernity is one of the most exciting developments in contemporary philosophy, with important implications for ethics. Jin Y. Park's insightful study of their relationship is grounded in a deep understanding and appreciation of both traditions. Her book is a welcome addition to the growing literature. -- David R. Loy, Xavier UniversityTable of ContentsPart 1 Introduction Part 2 Part One. Centripetality: Buddhism and Metaphysics Chapter 3 The Silence of the Buddha Chapter 4 Hegel and Buddhism Chapter 5 The Logic of Nothing and A-Metaphysics Part 6 Part Two. Centrifugality: Language and Violence Chapter 7 Language and Thinking: Subjectivity and Zen Huatou Meditation Chapter 8 Thinking and Violence: Zen Hermeneutics Chapter 9 Violence Institutionalized: The Social Dimension of Zen Language Part 10 Part Three. The Tension: Buddhism and the Politics of Postmodernity Chapter 11 Modernity, Postmodernity, and the Question of Legitimation Chapter 12 Postmodern Small Discourses and the Huayan World of Mutually Non-interfering Phenomena Chapter 13 Envisioning Zen Ethics through Huayan Phenomenology Chapter 14 The Ethics of Tension: Toward Buddhist Deconstructive Ethics

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Book SynopsisA deeply original exploration of the power of spontaneity—an ancient Chinese ideal that cognitive scientists are only now beginning to understand—and why it is so essential to our well-being   Why is it always hard to fall asleep the night before an important meeting? Or be charming and relaxed on a first date? What is it about a politician who seems wooden or a comedian whose jokes fall flat or an athlete who chokes? In all of these cases, striving seems to backfire.   In Trying Not To Try, Edward Slingerland explains why we find spontaneity so elusive, and shows how early Chinese thought points the way to happier, more authentic lives. We’ve long been told that the way to achieve our goals is through careful reasoning and conscious effort. But recent research suggests that many aspects of a satisfying life, like happiness and spontaneity, are best pursued indirectly. The early Chinese philosophers knew this, and they wrote extensively about an effortless way of being in the world, which they called wu-wei (ooo-way). They believed it was the source of all success in life, and they developed various strategies for getting it and hanging on to it.   With clarity and wit, Slingerland introduces us to these thinkers and the marvelous characters in their texts, from the butcher whose blade glides effortlessly through an ox to the wood carver who sees his sculpture simply emerge from a solid block. Slingerland uncovers a direct line from wu-wei to the Force in Star Wars, explains why wu-wei is more powerful than flow, and tells us what it all means for getting a date. He also shows how new research reveals what’s happening in the brain when we’re in a state of wu-wei—why it makes us happy and effective and trustworthy, and how it might have even made civilization possible.   Through stories of mythical creatures and drunken cart riders, jazz musicians and Japanese motorcycle gangs, Slingerland effortlessly blends Eastern thought and cutting-edge science to show us how we can live more fulfilling lives. Trying Not To Try is mind-expanding and deeply pleasurable, the perfect antidote to our striving modern culture.

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