Science and Philosophy in the Indian Buddhist Classics, Vol. 3

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Deepen your understanding of meaning and truth with the third volume of the Dalai Lama's series on Science and Philosophy in the Indian Buddhist Classics. This volume explores the philosophical schools of India, a practice dating back to the first millennium when proponents of competing traditions arranged diverse philosophical positions in a hierarchy. Centuries later, Tibet developed its own tradition of works on tenets, focusing on four schools of Buddhist philosophy to illustrate philosophical evolution within their tradition and among practitioners. This work follows that tradition but with a modern approach. It presents the views of seven non-Buddhist schools—Samkhya, Vaisesika, Nyaya, Mimamsa, Vedanta, Jaina, and Lokayata—alongside the Buddhist Vaibhasika, Sautrantika, Cittamatra, and Madhyamaka schools, arranged like steps toward deeper understanding. Unlike its ancient predecessors, this volume aims for authenticity, relying on sacred texts to allow each tradition to articulate its views. It poses essential questions about the components of our experience, the nature of ultimate reality, and how we can personally engage with these concepts. Explore how India's rich spiritual traditions approached these key questions, their areas of agreement, and their evolution through dialogue and debate.