The Doctrine of the Upanisads and the Early Buddhism: Die Lehre Der Upanishaden Und Die Anfange Des Buddhismus

The book offers an interpretation of the doctrine of the Upanisads and their bearings on Buddhism. It describes how the idea of Supreme beings was conceived in the words of Brahman and Atman and how these two entities merged with each other and became identical. Chapter I of this study, which discusses the older Upanisads, viz., the Brhad Aranyaka Upanisad and the Chandogya Upanisad, describes at the outset how the idea of the Supreme Being, the unique mystic power, was conceived in the words Brahman and Atman and how these two entities merged with each other and became identical. It then discusses the doctrine of metempsychosis as evolved from the relation between the Supreme Being and the world of plurality. In this period, the magician-priest begins to become a philosopher. Chapter II deals with later Upanisads like Kathaka Upanisad, Maitrayana Upanisad and Svetasvatara Upanisad. This period clearly reveals beginnings of the formulation of a system in the form of Samkhya Doctrine and the Yoga. Here the ultimate goal of human yearning, the salvation from suffering, becomes visible. In short, we perceive the development of thought of the Indian Philosophy from an impersonal god (of impersonal powers) to a personal god. But interestingly, a system strongly enforcing the elements of Yoga decisively rejected theism and adhered to the pessimistic thought of Indian the Doctrine of Buddhism. This is described in Chapter III. The book is rich in the scholarly interpretation of the doctrine of the Upanisads and their bearings on Buddhism. It describes how the idea of Supreme being was conceived in the words of Brahman and Atman and how these two entities merged with each other and became identical. It also discusses the doctrine of metempsychosis and the development of thought of Indian Philosophy from an impersonal god to personal god. In the end it discusses the Doctrine of Buddhism.