CONTENTS:- Preface; Abbreviations; I. Introduction; II. Nature, Characteristics and Types of Mysticism; III. Ontological Position of Sankara; IV. Mystical Elements in the Doctrine of Being; V. Anubhava: Its Description and Glory; VI. The Mystic Path; VII. Comparisons and Conclusions;
DESCRIPTION
In this work, A Philosophical Study of the Mysticism of Sankara, the author has made a serious effort to show that mysticism can be studied from several different view points, viz., religious, psychological and sociological. The Study and exposition is based on Sankara's original works. The author gives a comprehensive and critical account of the nature, characteristics, and types of mysticism. He brought out the salient features of Hindu, Greek, Hebrew and Jewish and Christian Mysticism. The ontological position of Sankara, the mystical elements contained in the concept of Brahman and the Doctrine of 'Brahmanubhava' its glorious nature are explained in a very lucid manner. The author raises a very interesting question: Is Sankara's mystical experience Atmabodhi or Brahmabodhi? Towards the end the author compares the non-Indian forms of mysticism with Sankara's Mysticism. Tao, is compared with Brahman. St. Thomas Aquinas, Eckhart and Abut Yazid are compared with Sankara. Towards the end the author concludes that "the excellent forms of mysticism of the great religions of the world exhibit rare form of nobility and dignity of the mankind.
