The Concealed Art of the Soul: Theories of the Self and Practices of Truth in Indian Ethics and Epistemology

In The Concealed Art of the Soul, Jonardon Ganeri presents a variety of perspectives on the nature of the self as seen by major schools of classical Indian philosophy. For Indian thinkers, a philosophical treatise about the self should not only reveal the truth about the nature of the soul, but should also engage the reader in a process of study and contemplation that will eventually lead to self-transformation. By combining careful attention to philosophical content and sensitivity to literary form, Ganeri deepens our understanding of some of the greatest works in Indian literary history. His magisterial survey includes the Upanisads, the Buddha's discourses, the epic Mahabharata, and the writings of Candrakirti, whose work was later to provide the foundation for Tibetan Buddhism. Ganeri argues that many Western theories of selfhood are not only present in, but are developed to high degree of sophistication in these writings, and that there are other ideas about the self found in the work of classical Indian thinkers which present-day analytic philosophers have not yet begun to explore. Scholars and students of philosophy and religious studies, particularly those with an interest in Indian and Western conceptions of the self, will find this book fascinating reading. Jonardon Ganeri compares classical Indian and contemporary Western accounts of the self. In The Concealed Art of the Soul, Jonardon Ganeri presents a variety of perspectives on the nature of the self as seen by major schools of classical Indian philosophy. For Indian thinkers, a philosophical treatise about the self should not only reveal the truth about the nature of the soul, but should also engage the reader in a process of study and contemplation that will eventually lead to self-transformation. By combining careful attention to philosophical content and sensitivity to literary form, Ganeri deepens our understanding of some of the greatest works in Indian literary history. His magisterial survey includes the Upanisads, the Buddha's discourses, the epic Mahabharata, and the writings of Candrakirti, whose work was later to provide the foundation for Tibetan Buddhism. Ganeri argues that many Western theories of selfhood are not only present in these writings, but are developed to a high degree of sophistication, and that there are other ideas about the self found in the work of classical Indian thinkers which present-day analytic philosophers have not yet begun to explore. Scholars and students of philosophy and religious studies, particularly those with an interest in Indian and Western conceptions of the self, will find this book fascinating reading ## Abstract The mistakes we make about ourselves result in our deepest sufferings. Philosophy, meant to be a medicine for our souls' affliction, claims to offer both a diagnosis and a cure. This book looks to ancient India, where Buddhists and Hindus alike grapple with the fundamental human quest for peace of mind. For Indian thinkers, a philosophical treatise about the self is meant not only to lay out the truth, but also to embed itself in a process of study and contemplation that will lead eventually to self-transformation. The survey includes the Upaniṣads, the Buddha's discourses, the epic Mahābhārata, and the philosopher Candrakīrti, whose work was later to become foundational in Tibetan Buddhism. The book shows that many contemporary theories of selfhood and personal identity are not only anticipated but developed to an extraordinary degree of sophistication in these works, and that there are other ideas about the self found here which modern philosophers have not yet begun to explore. In the Appendices, the book begins to disclose some of the paths along which Indian ideas about the self have migrated throughout history to the West. Detailed Contents... ix Introduction... 1 Part I. Soul-searchers and Sooth-sayers...11 ___1. Hidden in the Cave: The Upanisadic Self...13 ___2. Dangerous Truths: The Buddha on Silence, Secrecy and Snakes...39 ___3. A Cloak of Clever Words: The Deconstruction of Deceit in the Mahabharata... 61 Part II. Exhortations to Enlightenment... 95 ___4. Words That Burn: Why Did the Buddha Say What He Did?... 97 ___5. Words That Break: Can an Upanisad State the Truth?... 125 Part III. A Selfless Person's Sense of Self... 155 ___6. The Imperfect Reality of Persons... 157 ___7. Self as Performance... 185 Appendices... 217 Texts and Abbreviations... 237 Bibliography... 245 Chronological Table of Main Thinkers and Texts... 259 Index Locorum General Index "In The Concealed Art of the Soul, Jonardon Ganeri presents a variety of perspectives on the nature of the self as seen by major schools of classical Indian philosophy. For Indian thinkers, a philosophical treatise about the self should not only reveal the truth about the nature of the soul, but should also engage the reader in a process of study and contemplation that will eventually lead to self-transformation. By combining careful attention to philosophical content and sensitivity to literary form, Ganeri deepens our understanding of some of the greatest works in Indian literary history."--Jacket Hidden in the cave : the Upaniṣadic self Dangerous truths : the Buddha on silence, secrecy, and snakes A cloak of clever words : the deconstruction of deceit in the Mahabharata Words that burn : why did the Buddha say what he did? Words that break : can an Upaniṣad state the truth? The imperfect reality of persons Self as performance.