From the Jacket

In the Brahma Sutras of Badarayana, we find what is perhaps the most influential work in the history of Hindu theology, given that the Brahma Sutras served as the basis for the theologies of all major Hindu theologians, including Sankara, Ramanuja, Nimbarka, Vallabha, and Madhva.

Unfortunately, our access to Badarayana's work has been through the biased commentaries of these scetarian theologians, who often interpret the Brahma Sutras to support their own theological positions.

In this work Dr. Adams examines the first of the Brahma Sutras' four sections in an attempt to identify their original meaning and the theology that Badarayana attempted to express Dr. Adams also offers a readable translation that provides the reader with greater insight into the cryptic Sanskrit aphorisms composed by Badarayana. As such, this work provides a valuable contribution to understanding one of the seminal works in the History of Hindu theology.

About the Author

George C. Adams, Jr. was born in Danville, Pennsylvania in 1953. Dr. Adams holds a B.A. degree in Sociology from Susquehanna University, and the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Theology from Fordham University, where he studied History of Religions and Hindu Theology under Dr. Jose Pereira. Currently Dr. Adams is an Instructor in the Evening Program at Susquehanna University, where he teaches courses in Religion and Philosophy. Dr. Adams' interests include Hindu Theology, comparative studies, and the relationship between religion and psychology.

Contents:

I. INTRODUCTION
    Importance of the Brahma Sutras
    Scope and Purpose

II. BACKGROUND OF THE BRAHMA SUTRAS
     Dating
     Brahma Sutras as Uttara Mimamsa
     Predecessors of Badarayana
     The Structure of the Brahma Sutras
     The Sutra Style and Its Problem for the Modern Interpreter

III. IMPORTANT EXPOSITORS ON THE BRAHMA SUTRAS
      Introduction
      Sankara
      Ramanuja
      Nimbarka
      Vallabha
      Madhva

IV. AN ANALYSIS OF THE BRAHMA SUTRAS 1:1
      Catuhsutri : Introduction Aphorisms
      Topic Five : Intelligibility
      Topic Six : The Self Consisting of Joy
      Topic Seven : The Solar Indweller
      Topic Eight : Space
      Topic Nine : Breath
      Topic Ten : Light
      Topic Eleven : Indra as Breath

V. AN ANALYSIS OF THE BRAHMA SUTRAS 1:2
     Topic One : The Being Consisting of Mind
     Topic Two : The Eater
     Topic Three : The Two Persons in the Cave
     Topic Four : The Person with the Eye
     Topic Five : The Inner Controller
     Topic Six : The Invisible
     Topic Seven : The Gastric Fire

VI. AN ANALYSIS OF THE BRAHMA SUTRAS 1:3
      Topic One : The Support of the Universe
      Topic Two : The Abundance
      Topic Three : The Imperishable
      Topic Four : The Object of Seeing
      Topic Five : The Small Space in the Heart
      Topic Six : The Persons the Size of a Thumb
      Topic Seven : The Deities as Students of the Vedas
      Topic Eight : The Sudras Inteligibility for Brahman Knowledge
      Topic Nine : Breath
      Topic Ten : Light
      Topic Eleven : Space

VII. AN ANALYSIS OF THE BRAHMA SUTRAS 1:4
        Topic One : The Unmanifest
        Topic Two : The Unborn
        Topic Three : The Five Groups of Five
        Topic Four : The Brahman as Creator
        Topic Five : Whose Work is the World
        Topic Six : The Self to be Seen, Heard, etc.
        Topic Seven : The Material and Efficient Cause
        Topic Eight : Closing

 VIII. CONCLUSION
           Preliminary Considerations
           Badarayana's Methodologies
           The Theology of the Braham Sutras : Chapter One
           The Theology of the Brahma Sutras : A Summary of Chapter Two, Three, and Four
           Closing Remarks

BIBLIOGRAPHY

APPENDICES
          A. A Comparison of Adhikarana and Sutra Break downs
          B. An Analysis of Sutra Length
          C. Badarayana's Methodology

INDEX

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