ABSTRACT

The Routledge Handbook of Indian Buddhist Philosophy is the first scholarly reference volume to highlight the diversity and individuality of a large number of the most influential philosophers to have contributed to the evolution of Buddhist thought in India. By placing the author at the center of inquiry, the volume highlights the often unrecognized innovation and multiplicity of India’s Buddhist thinkers, whose unique contributions are commonly subsumed in more general doctrinal presentations of philosophical schools. Here, instead, the reader is invited to explore the works and ideas of India’s most important Buddhist philosophers in a manner that takes seriously the weight of their philosophical thought.

The forty chapters by an international and interdisciplinary team of renowned contributors each seek to offer both a wide-ranging overview and a philosophically astute reading of the works of the most seminal Indian Buddhist authors from the earliest writings to the twentieth century. The volume thus also provides thorough coverage of all the main figures, texts, traditions, and debates animating Indian Buddhist thought, and as such can serve as an in-depth introduction to Buddhist philosophy in India for those new to the field. 

Essential reading for students and researchers in Asian and comparative philosophy, The Routledge Handbook of Indian Buddhist Philosophy is also an excellent resource for specialists in Buddhist philosophy, as well as for contemporary philosophers interested in learning about the rigorous and rich traditions of Buddhist philosophy in India.

part 1|71 pages

Buddhas as Philosophers

chapter 1|16 pages

Gotama Buddha

His Quest and His Teachings

chapter 2|19 pages

Siddhārtha Gautama

Beyond the Historical Figure

chapter 3|18 pages

The Tantric Buddha

Primordial Buddhas as Philosophical Authors

chapter 4|14 pages

Maitreya

The Future Buddha as an Author

part 2|59 pages

Poet Philosophers

chapter |2 pages

Poet Philosophers

Introduction to Part 2

chapter 5|14 pages

Aśvaghoṣa

The Dawn of Indian Buddhist Philosophy

chapter 6|16 pages

The Milindapañha

How to Use a Philosophical Resource and Find a Literary Gem

chapter 7|11 pages

Cāttaṉār

Poet-Philosopher in Tamiḻ

chapter 8|14 pages

Saraha

The Anti-Philosopher as Philosopher

part 3|65 pages

Abhidharma Philosophers

chapter 9|17 pages

The Dhammasaṅgaṇī and Vibhaṅga

The Perfectly Awakened Buddha and the First Abhidhammikas

chapter 10|12 pages

Moggaliputta Tissa's Points of Discussion (Kathāvatthu)

Reasoning and Debate in Early Buddhist Thought 1

chapter 11|16 pages

Kātyāyanīputra and the Large Commentary (Mahāvibhāṣā)

The Development of Abhidharma Literature and of a Sarvāstivāda Self-identity

chapter 12|16 pages

The Vātsīputrīya/Sāṃmitīya

Buddhist Personalism as a Mainstream School of Thought

part 4|117 pages

Philosophical Founders

chapter 13|25 pages

Nāgārjuna

Dependent Arising Without Any Thing Arising 1

chapter 14|16 pages

Āryadeva

Quietism and Buddhist Ethics

chapter 15|14 pages

Asaṅga

Great Systematizer of Yogācāra Thought

chapter 16|18 pages

Vasubandhu

Mainstream and Mahāyāna

chapter 17|19 pages

Dignāga

Early Innovator in Buddhist Epistemology 1

chapter 18|19 pages

Dharmakīrti

Philosopher and Defender of the Faith

part 5|98 pages

Early-Period Commentators (Fifth–Seventh Century)

chapter 19|18 pages

Buddhaghosa

Phenomenology, Hermeneutics, and Understanding

chapter 20|15 pages

Bhāviveka

Madhyamaka Dialectic, Doxography, and Soteriology

chapter 21|15 pages

Dharmapāla

A Janus-Faced Interpreter of Yogācāra? 1

chapter 22|17 pages

Sthiramati

A Yogācāra Commentator and Innovator

chapter 23|11 pages

Devendrabuddhi and Śākyabuddhi

Dharmakīrti's First Commentators

chapter 24|17 pages

Candrakīrti

Gardener of Sky-Flowers 1

part 6|119 pages

Middle-Period Commentators (Eighth–Ninth Century)

chapter 25|12 pages

Śubhagupta

An Externalist Outsider Within the Dharmakīrtian Tradition

chapter 26|11 pages

Dharmottara

Systematic and Innovative Commentator

chapter 27|13 pages

Jñānagarbha

Two Truths Theory, Gradualism, and Mādhyamika Philosophy

chapter 28|17 pages

Śāntarakṣita:

Climbing the Ladder to the Ultimate Truth

chapter 29|17 pages

Kamalaśīla

Mādhyamika Champion of Magical Reason

chapter 30|14 pages

Haribhadra

The Voice of Perfect Wisdom

chapter 31|17 pages

Śāntideva

Virtue on the Empty Path of the Bodhisattva

chapter 32|12 pages

Prajñākaragupta

Buddhist Epistemology as the Path to the Wisdom of Non-Duality

part 7|89 pages

Late-Period Commentators (Tenth–Twelfth Century)

chapter 33|11 pages

Jitāri

A Later Buddhist Master of Debate 1

chapter 34|15 pages

Jñānaśrīmitra

Variegated Non-Duality

chapter 35|14 pages

Ratnakīrti

Aligning Everyday Experience with Momentariness and Idealism

chapter 36|14 pages

Ratnākaraśānti

The Illumination of False Forms

chapter 37|14 pages

Atiśa

The Great Middle Way of Mere Appearance

chapter 38|15 pages

Abhayākaragupta

A Last Great Paṇḍita

part 8|32 pages

Modern Philosophers

chapter |2 pages

Modern Philosophers

Introduction to Part 8

chapter 39|15 pages

B. R. Ambedkar

Justice, Religion, and Buddhist Political Philosophy

chapter 40|13 pages

The Dalai Lama XIV

A Modern Indian Philosopher