Understanding Asian Philosophy: Ethics in the Analects, Zhuangzi, Dhammapada and the Bhagavad GitaUnderstanding Asian Philosophy introduces the four major Asian traditions through their key texts and thinkers: the Analects of Confucius, the Daoist text Zhuangzi, the early Buddhist Suttas, and the Bhagavad Gita. Approached through the central issue of ethical development, this engaging introduction reveals the importance of moral self-cultivation and provides a firm grounding in the origins of Asian thought. Leading students confidently through complex texts, Understanding Asian Philosophy includes a range of valuable features: brief biographies of main thinkers such as Confucius and Zhuangzi primary source material and translations maps and timelines comprehensive lists of recommended reading and links to further study resources relevant philosophical questions at the end of each chapter As well as sections on other texts and thinkers in the tradition, there are frequent references to contemporary examples and issues. Each chapter also discusses other thinkers in different traditions in the West, presenting various comparative approaches. With its clear focus on thinkers and texts, Understanding Asian Philosophy is an ideal undergraduate introduction to Chinese, Indian, Buddhist and Daoist thought. |
Contents
1 | |
Ethics and SelfCultivation in Ancient China | 9 |
1 The Analects of Confucius
| 11 |
2 Zhuangzi and the DaoistTradition
| 53 |
Ethics and SelfCultivation in Ancient India
| 87 |
3 The Suttas Dhammapada and the Early Buddhist Tradition
| 89 |
4 The Message of the Bhagavad Gita
| 131 |
New Directionsin Scholarship
| 173 |
179 | |
185 | |
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Common terms and phrases
according adherence Analects Arjuna Asian aspects atman attain become Bhagavad Gita Brahman Buddha Buddha’s teaching central chapter Chinese committed concepts concern Confucian Confucius consider contemporary craving and attachment cultivation Daodejing Daoist death dependent origination desire Dhammapada dharma distinction early Buddhist end suffering enlightened person example fruits of action gain goal guru happiness Hindu human nature identity Indian Kauravas kind Krishna learning liberation lives magnificent butcher Mahabharata Mahayana meditation Mencius mental mind monks morally ideal person motivation narrow perspective negative nirvana noble truth norms notion one’s path philosophy pleasure problem realize relationships religion religious ritual role sacred duty self-cultivation sense Siddhartha simply social harmony society Sutta texts Theravada thinkers thought thriving tradition trans transformation truly ultimately understanding universal spirit Upanishads values virtue ethics western Xunzi Yang Zhu Zhuang Zhou Zhuangist Zhuangzi