The issue of liberation is a recurrent theme in all schools of Indian classical thought. In case of advaita-vedānta it is deeply rooted in ontology. The problem of ontological status of the world was the bone of contention for two competing non‑dualist schools of vedānta - vivaraṇa and bhāmatī. Maṇḍana’s Brahmasiddhi can be regarded as an important source of inspiration for the latter. The present paper is an analysis of Maṇḍana’s statements pertaining to the issue of mukti (or mokṣa) in contrast with those of Śankara, the exponent of advaita commonly (though erroneously) considered the creator and the most prominent representative of the school.
Artykuł jest próbą odpowiedzi na pytanie, czy w myśli indyjskiego adualizmu (advaita) można mówić o pojęciu osoby. Rozważania są prowadzone w aspekcie ewentualnego pojęcia osobowości Brahmana oraz duszy indywidualnej człowieka. Przyjętym wstępnie punktem odniesienia jest klasyczna definicja osoby, sformułowana przez Boecjusza.
EN
The article is an attempt to answer the question whether in the thought of Indian adualism (advaita) one can speak about the concept of a person. The considerations are conducted in the aspect of the possible concept of Brahman personality and the individual soul of man. The predefined reference point is the classic definition of a person, formulated by Boethius.
A defense of the unity of being in the Brahmasiddhi of Manḍanamiśra. An example of scholastic argumentation: Chāndogyopaniṣad 6 comprises as many as two out of six renowned “great sayings” (mahā‑vākya): tat tvam asi and ekam evādvitīyam. The question arises as to whether the declared in śruti unity of the Absolute Being is to be understood literally or figuratively. The opponent (pūrva‑pakṣa) presents three arguments for the figurative meaning of the words. Maṇḍana advocates the literal sense of the statement. The debate is a typical example of an Indian philosophical scholastic text. Scholasticism in India and scholasticism in medieval Europe share some characteristic features, though they also differ in many ways.
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