The Advaita Tradition in Indian Philosophy

“The book is a good introduction for students interested in learning about some of the similarities between the trends and the important issues they raise. It is also a creditable for drawing upon important original sources. This is in contrast to the usual tendency to rely on unreliable secondary sources and misleading translations. It could serve as a guide for future researchers, indicating which original works should be carefully studied to improve one’s understanding of these trends. –M.P. Marathe, The Annals of B.O.R. Institute, Vol. LXXIX (1998). Pune, 1999.
This work compares and critically analyzes Vijnanavada and Shunyavada as well as Advaita Vedanta, Advaita Vedanta, Kashmira Shaivism, which are the main Advaitavada systems, or spiritual non-dualism, that have been most popular in Indian philosophy. The author has studied original sources. When dealing with fundamental questions, original texts are either cited or referred. These systems’ similarities and differences are explained in great detail and with great clarity. Professor Sharma’s unique ability to express complex metaphysical thoughts in clear language has helped clarify many ambiguous points and correct some misconceptions. This book is a masterly overview of Mahayana Buddhism, Advaita Vedanta, and kashmira Shaivism. It will be of great value to students of philosophy at universities and colleges as well as anyone who is interested in Vedanta, Kashmira Shaivism, and wants to know more about the Advaita tradition of Indian philosophical thought.