The Method of Early Advaita Vedanta: A Study of Gaudapada, Sankara, Suresvara and Padmapada

262 Pages·2002·51.53 MB·English

by  Michael Comans

-:;~/\ ( Lf
The Method of
Early Advaita Vedanta
,
A Study of Gaurj,apiida, Sankara,
Sure.Svara and Padmapada
MICHAEL COMANS
MOTILAL EANARSIDASS PUBLISHERS
I I
PRIVATE LIMITED• DELHI
'
•
First Edition: Delhi, 2000
©MICHAEL GO MANS
All Rights Reserved
ISBN: 81-208-1722-2
A~o availabk at:
MOTILAL BANARSIDASS
236, 9th Main III Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore 560 011
41 U.A. Bungalow Road, Jawahar Nagar, Delhi 110 007
8 Mahalaxmi Chamber, Warden Road, Mumbai 400 026
120 Royapettah High Road, Mylapore, Chennai 600 004
Sanas Plaza, 1302 Baji Rao Road, Pune 411 002
8 Camac Street, Calcutta 700 01 7
Ashok Rajpath, Patna 800 004
Chowk, Varanasi 221 001
for my parents
Printed in India
BYJAINENDRA PRAKASH JAIN AT SHRIJAINENDRA PRESS,
A-45 NARAINA. PHASE-I, NEW DELHI 110 028
AND PUBLISHED BY NARENDRA PRAKASH JAIN FOR
MOTILAL BANARSIDAS"S PUBLISHERS PRIVATE LIMITED,
BUNGALOW ROAD, DELHI 110 007
Contents
Acknowledgements
IX
Introduction
xi
Detailed Table of Contents xv
Information regarding the Texts Cited xv iii
Abbreviations xxi
Gau4apada
Chapter One
A Running Commentary upon Gau9apada's Karikas 1
Chapter Two
Ga u<;lapada' s Teachings in relation to Buddhist Thought 88·
Chapter Three
Gau<;lapada on Liberation and tne Means to Liberation 125
Sankara
Chapter Four
Sankaracarya 163
Chapter Five
Remarks on: I svara, Jiva, Upiidhi, Namariipa and A vidya 215
viii Contents
Chapter Six
The Means (sadhana), the End (sadhya) and their Relation 284
Suresvara and Padmapada
Acknowledgments
Chapter Seven
Suresvara 345
Chapter Eight
There are a number of people who enabled this book to be possible,
Padmapada 410
even though some of them may think they have had no direct connection
with it; here I have in mind my co-students in the period 1980-82, and
Postscript on Method 467
they deser"e my thanks. To single out the people whom I would
especially like to acknowledge, I refer firstly to my Vedanta acarya, Sri
Bibliography 473
Swami Dayananda. Saraswati, without whose teaching none of this work
would have been possible. I would then like to thank his student, and my
Index 49 I
gurubhai, Swami Paramarthananda, of Chennai, who is always willing to
discuss with me some obscure matter and make me the beneficiary of his
clarity and his kindness. I wish to thank Dr R. Krishnamurthi Sastri,
Professor of Vedanta, Madras Sanskrit College, under whose able guidance
it became possible for me to understand at least a significant portion of
the Pancapadika..
I would like to acknowledge here the great assistance of my wife,
Archana, for her willing support of my interests. I would like to menti01i
the help of my friend, Mr Craig Littler, who took the trouble to read an
early draft of some of the chapters, and who gave me his ad'Vice as well as
assistance in pmcufrng materials. I would also like to acknowledge the
staff of the School of Asian Studies and of the School of Religion, at The
University of Sydney, who generously assisted me during my time
teaching there. Professor J.W. de Jong deserves my thanks, firstly for
bringing to my attention the importance of Sankara's commentary on the
first pa<fa of the second chapter of the Brahmasiltra, when we read that
portion in class during the time I was his Ph.D. student. And also for
supplying some references to do with my work on Gauc.lapada and
Buddhism. I wish also to acknowledge the assistance of Dr Richard V.
De Srnet, S.J. (19h5-97) who kindly sent me a copy of his doctoral
x
The Method ofE arly Advaita Vedanta
wFSadtih ahonecoccascto licoilspiyor.lya ,lm il DnI m toahwrnef eAo ndsuDtei.esJln..ddr d AurMlAaiplk syoletSso n tattn ohroa aan nhns'a asvekc saask ,trtbn Irle,tioa oeenwoarnss ,lv leoeatwdofrt gs ieaSoielosnt lsen t ihpa seoosht afefcnf ntoocht nreehC terisrtneo iobx sMmlusto.,t e iaiifo noleniardns vpi gtoir omdofrv yietaiha dloau i sanciesgor s sapimcsysht aeaoo n wlfcab hiertyish.s Introduction
it 'T1TI
~ ~'ll'fl 37ti~l~"IOI~ ~I
it <qq~IBc}SflW ~ ~ tn:Cif 1f(IT: 11 obstVouloinuiptnev ttpttiu dehein<saltdeglAJu n- s!mriate mt n"aulnre. , nveu Itchibn Temtoaoyuddhbnb dt iisoa tae h<sisuoJ rd ew m tfaes y h crtAetemiuheoeanderdutrogeiv yslnmt da i ghhvia Vent eigaatswo etho tVidtav,aoo ausfeodnii ndgncn ntahha tdaooAntte .i t t a uZo iaftn snhom.He ct,eunr lee anu.Irt ld dhesiaAa aeaosi,s isd nksdo Io ehn i Ztmmndi hes I a ieen btiut .t,ni, d n m tahiWydense reecw ehsruIsst,nhems otdnes hoiiiti enloIkahi nnn enZht groaaaJe l ihdennywvs ed erusrs lieecetiytuptleve adal mpeirtsierrhieekf ididhidees:c sa drabst"da t oohJwi tmouoihtmhhnskeeeot r
wcsottisiwoohttpntnSifttoutShtnemoVuav ohthu~wd o ae rde e etgrmytiisruasayhSi eiWdokhe wtrncgne seaI.ia-sdoausdgn0vnhhno entisdsorl w a Uat krax atuai t amtkartn,a hctriifab hra t shoelr oa iny oejaey.oasnnaIerAn d sf' umte odslcbh i Ud oudfn nntTtifotapes n hcf ovnbydd ivaeh o Sco eaniageA eendeesklhto maia ir nit ittd aodnsrflofhtaom~ Ititsrvpf iktceo eeviais ehtsiatha nIeerpnscderesie iyd"rna e ti isrt hrraP tt ppc taan ss, hoaa.at ttlo g co o oVaetrdeeot p ser a yh mrs KAtfeteeess wt,r snwh Sha n dxreaecmtesurastbeuaeupr r t ies otm ihsei netrmolf ohvtpeaancctettiawfpbawet annhihsbaew .nntpve egoodoe lte mt oralitsnrlT adehtoolt ifah rr o nnhmeoa naoftreaoMoir u du i esfsaeaehoSftfnr i t t,e se n U,hsiefwi itdIf ts yiraph tsda ihogmitayi aseuanacar hyovhuPn maennehludeacdtitdrsarcsi.o ie co "i otn sdp t ~t whwe mil. hgamIseDatay ra s s tnerhsioadmtra tuaa si nd aubilsogatapad yIsyet bv bjd ddnnaayyeae nMeaeoi,ddiddfnd Ac entny tio areaMaa sthrdde tdeit.kunrsnf1hei v basyvaittnm dode piogrs QhIa iS t sat tesJsubommyheih<o a edetirae a fSiei;nt aa eeBak lgnt hvgroatasrrsshtiyohhsee nanhiklr ftea:s,i paiiaae nor nee sno,msSixowgc Cd Grdto wubtsah aadi w shatgsastoiom aa vic,rciedtimr soiatpfkuabhsanoytalic, keat.shs; Aladm mn u leeIecs.rvr pag d sradi,iumxeiFpth ti ofs ehvstmce tasatiaoaruawsoeoaoerdidnirreyxs s ip nfas dtd ,, , ta ·
xii The Method ofE Yly Advaita Vedanta Introduction xiii
(the first four sfitras) of the Brahwasfitra. Later, staying in Rishikesh, 1 succeed in reaching the further shore. We are perhaps not yet in a
had the opportunity to listen to Swami Dayananda teach most of position to do full justice to the thought of Suresvara: The final chapter,
Sure5varn's Nai$karmyasiddhi. I still cherish the memory of that time, on Padmapada, required my reading, at least cursorily, through tht: full
listening twice daily to the Nai,skarmyasiddhi, and coming out from .i1e Paiicapadika and then I concentrated on the important first section which
late afternoon class into the chill evening air to feel the wind as it came is his commentary upon Sankara's Adhyasabha$ya. I was fortunate to
down the valley, to hear the sound of the Gmiga as it rushed over rocks receive help from Dr R. Krishnamurthi Sastri, Professor of Vedanta at
partially submerged in the middle of its stream, and then the sound of the Madras Sanskrit College, who discussed this portion of the Paiicapadika
conch announcing arati at the small temple dedicated to Siva as with me.
Gmigadharesvara. There are a couple of ways a reader can approach this book. The
In preparation for this work I began to study each of these Advaita reader is of course welcome to go through the chapters sequentially.
authors based on their acknowledged writings. As far as possible I have However, if one just wishes to gain a generally complete understanding
read and tried to explain each author on his own terms and not in the light of Sankara, chapters four to six should prove sufficient, and I look upon
of the later commentators, though it is not always possible, nor is it these as forming the principal chapters of the book. Chapter four, then,
advisable, to simply ignore the commentators. For Gauc,lapada there is might prove a good place to start. The chapter dealing with Suresvara
but a single source work, the Gau<;lapadakarika. For the chapters on extends some of the points raised in the chapters on Sankara. The chapter
Sankara my three primary sources are, in order of importance: his dealing with the work of Padmapada is still more technical, and is for
commentary on the Brahmasiitra, his commentary on the Bfhadiirm_iyaka those who wish to enter into Smikara's famous Adhyasabh~ya in greater
Upani~ad, and then the Upadcfasahasri which is probably his only detail. 'The three chapters on Gauc;lapada stand a little apart from the other
authentic non-commentarial work. I first read the commentary on the chapters. While it is reasonably clear what Sankara and his students are
Brhadli.rm.Jyaka in Sanskrit, taking assistance from Swami Madhavananda's saying, it is not always so clear in the case of Gauc,lapada. I believe that
very readable English translation. 'Iben I carefully read through the foll Garn;lapada was a follower of the Upani~adic tradition and that he was
Brahmasfitrabhti$ya in Sanskrit, keeping as my companions over many neither a Buddhist nor a "concealed Buddhist" and I have argued
'.11~nths the fine translations of Swami Garnbh'irananda and George accordingly. That is not to down-play the numerous references to
llubaut. After these three sources, I relied on the commentaries to the Buddhist literature in his work, which, it must be said, is something the
Taittiriya and some of the other Upani~ads according to my familiarity traditional commentators have often failed to perceive. While there are
with them. I did not use the corµmentary on the M3.Ip,fiikya Upani~ad in real continuities between the major teachings of all the four acaryas, and I
these chapters on Sankara, for even though it may be an authentic have tried to note some of these, the connection between Gauc;lapada and
commentary it has some unusual characteristics and frequently does not his successors is not quite as strong as between Sankara and his disciples
share the same standard as his other works. I also did not use his and the chapters on Gauc,lapada could be read without reference to the other
commentary on the Bhaga vadgitli to any great extent. I have not relied at chapters if one so wished. The first of the three chapters on Gaudapada is
all on any works where there is considerable uncertainty concerning especially lengthy and somewhat difficult in places, for it virtually forms
authorship, such the popular, but post-Sankara, Vivekacil{lamaJJJ. a running commentary on most of the karikas, and so it does not always
With regard to the chapter on Suresvara, my primary source was the lend itself to easy reading. The rriore general reader should feel free to
Nai$karmyasiddhi. I did go through his Vartika on Sankara's commentary pass over those passages in this chapter, or in any chapter, where the
to the Taittiriya Upani~ad with the help of the translation of Dr R. discussion involves more detail than is required. For the committed
Balasubramanian and I also attempted to cross the ocean of the Vartika student of Advaita, however, I would suggest that there is benefit to be
on the BrhadtiraJ}yaka Upani$adbhli§ya, but unlike Hanuman, I did not
xiv The Method ofE arly Advaita Vedanta
gained in proceeding carefully though at least most of the chapters of this
book.
This book is based closely upon the source literature. I have tried to
keep somewhat abreast of the secondary literature and from time to time I Detailed Table of Contents
discuss views found in academic publications. With regard to the four
Advaita authors whose works form the content of this book, I do not
pretend to have addressed and clarified all the terminological and other
difficulties that stand in our way of clearly comprehending their meaning.
I do believe, however, to have contributed to an accurate u11derstaJJding of Ch2pter One:
these acaryas through this examination of their teachings as it can be A Running Commentary upon Gaucjapada's Karikas
found in their own writings. In the chapters on Sankara I bave especially The M8.J)cjiikya Upani~ad
highlighted two issues that have not received sufficient attention in many ( 1) The Agamaprakaraqa
of the publications dealing with Sankara's thought. These are, firstly, the (2) The Vaitathyaprakara!)a
question about the nature of 1§ vara in Sankara's Advaita. This is a topic (3) The Advaitaprakaral)a
that has hereto been given a fairly scant treatment (though Rudolf Otto (4) The Alataiantipralmral)a
and Paul Hacker have stimulated my discussion on this importa11t matter).
Then there is the discussion of method, i.e., exactly how, and to w.bat
extent, does Sankara understand the Upani~ads to be a revelation about Chapter Two:
Brahman. I hope. to have made some contribution to a better Ga11cj.apiida's Teachings in relation to Buddhist Thought
understanding of Advaita through my discussion of these two matters in ( 1) Gauc;lapada and Nagarjuna
particular. While there are numerous books on Advaita, they are not all (2) Gam;lapada and Y ogacara
reliable in their interpretations. I trust this book will be found reliable
and reasonably accessible. I hope it will be of value to people who wish
to gain a better understanding of the great tradition that is Advaita Chapter Three:
Vedanta, in one of its greatest periods. Gaucjapiida on Liberation and the Means to Liberation
(1) Contemplation based upon the syllable "OM"
(2) Aspar8a Yoga -the yoga of" no-contact"
Chapter Four:
Salikaracarya
( 1) Gauc;lapada and Sankara
(2) Th.e sruti as the means of knowledge for Brahman
(3) Erahman as I svara and as the World
xvi The Method ofE arly Advaita Vedanta Detailed Table of Contents xvii
Chapter Five: -Awareness and Experience
Remarks on: I hara, Jiva, Upadhi, Niimarupa and Avidyii -The nature ofthe ahmiklira
(1) Hvara -The meaning of the illustrations used in the discussion of
(2) Jiva superimposition
(3) Upadhi -Perception
( 4) Namarupa -Conclusion of the topic dealint-, with the possibility of
(5) Avidya superimposition
(5) The existence of superimposition
(6) The sruti and its role in liberation
Chapter Six:
The Means (sadhana), the End (sadhya) and their Relation Postscript on Method
(l) The method in the Upani$ads as interpreted by Sankara
(2) Immediate and mediate knowledge of Brahman and the question of Bibliography
experience
(3) Liberation, Jivanmukti and Prarabdhakarma Index.
(4) Sannyasa and Videhamukti
Chapter Seven:
Surehara
(1) Duality
(2) The world
(3) Ignorance (avidya)
(4) Some differences between Suresvara and Sankara
{5) Anvayavyatireka
(6) How Sankara and Suresvara interpret the sentence "tat tvam asi"
(7) Sure5vara and PrasaJikhylina
Chapter Eight:
Padmapada
( 1) Why talk of superimposition (adhyasa)?
(2) Though superimposition is not logically possible, it flonetheless
occurs
-The term mithyajiiana
(3) The definition of superimposition (adhyasa)
(4) The possibility of superimposition
Information Regarding the Texts Cited
The references in the Notes to each chapter refer to the following
editions. Unless otherwise stated, the translations are my own.
Gau<;lapiida
All references concerning the Gau<)apadakarikT1s are to:
RD. Karrnarkar, (ed. and tr.) Gaw:japada-Karika. Poona: Bhandarkar
Oriental Research Institute, 1973.
Sankara
Page and line references are to the following editions:
Works of Sankaracarya in Original Sanskrit, vol. I. Ten Principal
Upani$ads with Sankarabh~ya. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1978.
Works of Saiikaracarya in Original Sanskrit, vol.11. Bhagavadgitii with
Siirikarabhii;;ya. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1978.
Brahmasiltra-Sankarabhii.?yam. Edited by J.L. Shastri. Delhi: Motilal
Banarsidass, 1980.
UpadefasahasrI of SrI Sankarachiirya: A Thousand Teachings in two parts
prose and poetry. Translated by Swami Jagadananda. 7th. ed. Madras:
Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1984.
xx The Method o/Early Advaita Verllinta
Injorrnation Regarding The Text Cited
XXl
In addition to the references to the original works, I have also citc.,d the
page reference to a previously published translation, for the additional S. Subrahmanya Shastri (ed.), Brhadlirm.1yakopani:jad Bhli_~yavartikam (vol.
assistance of the reader. These references are to the following 1), with the Commentary .~astraprakasikii of Acarya Sri Anandagiri.
Varanasi: Mahesh Research Institute, 1982.
translations:
Swami Madbavananda (tr.), The BrhadaraJJyaka Upani$ad with the S. Subrahmanya Shastri (ed.), BrhadliraJ}.yakopani$ad Bhi1$yavartikam (vol.
commentary of Sartkaracarya. Calcutta: Advaita Ashrama, (5th Ed.) 2), with the Commentary Sastraprakasika of Acarya Sn Anandagiri.
Varanasi: Mahesh Research Institute, 1990.
1975.
Swami Gambhirananda (tr.), Eight Upaiii$ads With the Comme11tary of
PadmapMa
Smikaracarya (Two Vols.). ·Calcutta: Advaita Ashrama, 1977.
Swami Gambhirananda, (tr.) Chandogya Upani,'iad With the Commentary References to the Paiicapadika are to the following editions:
of Sri Smikaracazya. Calcutta: Advaita Ashrama (n.d.).
S. Srirama SastJ.i and S .R. Krishnamurthi Sastri (ed.), Paiicapadika of SrI
CSwalacmutit aG: aAmdbvhaiitraa nAasnhdraa m(tar.,) ,1 9B7r7a.h ma-sfitra-bhli$ya of Sn Smikaracarya. PAa tdmmaaspvaadruapcaar yaa ndw ithT atrhtpe arcyoamrtmheandtyaoriteins l Poraf boVdihj iaiapnairitifmoadnh inIa nodf
Paiicapadikavivara~ia of SrI Prakasatman with Tatparyadipika of
SSwmaikmaria cGaarymab. bCiraalcnuatntad:a A (dtrv.)a,i tBa hAasgharavmaad,g 1it9li8 4W. ith the Commentary of aCnitds u2k hVaacna:iarykaa sw. dT Birhuapvaatip: rKakcansdikriay ao SfN anrssikmrhitl iV.friadrynainp eVetohla.1, c1o9m85p r(isreinpgri1n t
of first two Va rQaka<> from the Madras Government Oriental Series CLV ,
1958.).
Suresvara
S. Subrahmanya.~astrI (ed.), Sri Padmapadacarya's Paiicapadikii with the
Regarding the works of Suresvara, references are to the following commentaries Vivara~ia by Sn Prakasatrnamuni, Tattvadlpana by Sri
editions: AkhaIJ(fanandamuni and RjuvivaraIJa by .~rI Vi$IJUbhattopadhyaya.
Varanasi: Mahesh Research Institute, 1992.
R. Balasubramanian (ed. and tr.), 1he Nai$karmyasiddhi of Suresvara.
Madras: Radhakrishnan Institute for Advanced Study in Philosophy, In addition, I have also cited the page reference to a previously published
translation:
University of Madras, 1988.
R. Balasubramanian (ed. and tr.), 11ie Taittiriyopm1i$ad Bha$ya-Vartika D. Venkataramiah (tr.), The Paiicapadika of Padmapada. Baroda:
of Sure§vara. Madras: Radhakrishnan Institute for Advanced Study in (Gaekwad's Oriental Series No. CVII) Oriental Institute, 1948.
Philosophy, University of Madras, (revised ed.) 1984.