Essays on the Religion and Philosophy of the Hindus

Front Cover
Williams and Norgate, 1858 - Hindu philosophy - 325 pages
 

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 258 - The term which the Bauddhas, as well as Jainas, more particularly affect, and which, however, is also used by the rest, is nirvana, profound calm. In its ordinary acceptation, as an adjective, it signifies extinct, as a fire which is gone out ; set, as a luminary which has gone down ; defunct, as a saint who has passed away ; its etymology is from vd, to blow as wind, with the preposition nir used in a negative sense : it means calm and unruffled.
Page 164 - When separation of the informed soul from its corporeal frame at length takes place, and nature in respect of it ceases, then is absolute and final deliverance accom"plished."|| " Thus," concludes the Carica, " this abstruse knowledge, " adapted to the liberation of soul, wherein the origin, dura• Car.
Page 17 - Darkness there was ; (for) this universe was enveloped with darkness, and was undistinguishable (like fluids mixed in) waters ; but that mass, which was covered by the husk, was (at length) produced by the power of contemplation. First, desire was formed in his mind, and that became the original productive seed ; which the wise, recognising it by the intellect in their hearts, distinguish, in nonentity, as the bond of entity.
Page 7 - Brdhmanas; and some received into their canon of scripture, portions which do not appear to have been acknowledged by others. Yet the chief difference seems always to have been the use of particular rituals taught in aphorisms (sulras) adopted by each school; and these do not constitute a portion of the Veda, but, like grammar and astronomy, are placed among its appendages.
Page 78 - Earth ! Sky ! Heaven ! Middle region ! " Place of births ! Mansion of the blessed ! Abode of truth ! " We meditate on the adorable light of the resplendent " generator, which governs our intellects ; which is water, "lustre, savour, immortal faculty of thought, BRAHME,
Page 202 - Each case is examined and determined upon general principles; and from the cases decided the principles may be collected. A well-ordered arrangement of them would constitute the philosophy of the law : and this is, in truth, what has been attempted in the Mimansa.
Page 41 - Thus, a tree, indeed, also springs from seed ; and likewise sprouts afresh [from the root] after [seemingly] dying; but, if the tree be torn up by the root, it doth not grow again. From what root, then, does mortal man rise afresh, when hewn down...
Page 83 - He rises, wonderful, the eye of the sun, of water, and of fire, collective power of gods ; he fills heaven, earth, and sky, with his luminous net ; he is the soul of all, which is fixed or locomotive. That eye, supremely beneficial, rises pure from the east; may we see him a hundred years ; may we live a hundred years; may we hear a hundred years. May we be preserved by the divine power, contemplating heaven above the region of darkness, approach the deity, most splendid of luminaries.
Page 204 - It is asked whether a paramount sovereign shall give all the land, including pasture ground, highways, and the site of lakes and ponds ; an universal monarch, the whole earth ; and a subordinate prince, the entire province over which he rules ? To that question the answer is : the monarch has not property in the earth, nor the subordinate prince in the land. By conquest kingly power is obtained and property in house and field which belonged to the enemy. The maxim of the law, that the king is lord...
Page 242 - The notion, that the versatile world is an illusion (maya), that all which passes to the apprehension of the waking individual is but a phantasy presented to his imagination, and every seeming thing is unreal and all is visionary, does not appear to be the doctrine of the text of the Vedanta.

Bibliographic information