The Philosophy of the Vedanta and the Vedantasara

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Born 7 January 1845, at Oberdreis near Coblenz: son of Adam Deussen, pastor; educated at Schulpforta near Naumburg: studied at Bonn, Tubingen and Berlin: Sanskrit under Lassen and Gildemeister, classical philology, theology: Phil. Dr. at Marburg, 1869: teacher at the Gymnasiums at Minden and Marburg, 1869—72, and tutor in Russian families at Geneva, Aix-la Chappelle, and Terny in Russia, 1872—80: taught philosophy (the subject to which he was chiefly devoted) and Sanskrit, as Privat-docent at the University of Geneva: and philosophy at the Polytechnical School at Aix-la Chappelle, 1875—9. While at Geneva, his resolution was made to devote his life to the study of Indian philosophy (1873). Since his return from Russia and residence in Berlin, from 1881 to 1889, this has been his main work: taught philosophy at Berlin University, first as Privat-docent then as Professor; since 1889, Ordinary Professor of Philosophy at the University of Kiel; has travelled much in various parts of the world: over the greater part of India, 1892—3. In 1904, the Order of the Red Eagle, 4th Class, was conferred upon him. Among his chief works may be mentioned: Das System des Vedanta, 1883: Die Sutras des Vedanta, 1887: On the Philosophy of the Vedanta in its relations to Occidental Metaphysics, Bombay, 1893; Sechzig Upanishads des Veda, 1897: Geschichte der Philosophy (I and II on the Vedic Hymns and Upanishads: III—VI in preparation), 1894, 1899: ‘Outlines of Indian Philosophy,’ in the Indian Antiquary, 1902: Erinnerungen an Indian, 1904.

Publisher’s Note

The first two papers by Deussen, published in this volume, appeared in the Indian Antiquary, 1902, and was reprinted in 1907 in a little volume entitled ‘Outlines of Indian Philosophy’ with an appendix, “On the Philosophy of the Vedanta in its relations to Occidental Metaphysics.” The appendix was originally an address delivered before the Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society in February 1893.

The concluding treatise, the Vedantasara of Sadananda Yogendra, translated with annotations by G .A. Jacob, was first published in 1881 in the Trubner’s Oriental Series as A Manual of Hindu Pantheism.

The text of the Vedantasara which the author used is that published in Calcutta in 1875 by Pandit Jivananda Vidyasagar, with the commentary of Nrisinhasaraswati.

Back of the Book

Known as the oldest philosophical texts of the world, the Vedas have always aroused much scholarly curiosity. Several thinkers have sought to prise open the hidden meaning(s) within the Vedas with the help of the Upanishads and decode them.

Venerated philosophy scholar Paul Deussen, influenced by Schopenhauer’s metaphysics pursued the study of Indian philosophy for thirty-five years. Following in the path of Max Mueller, he was and still is acknowledged by all Sanskrit scholars, including R.D. Ranade, as an unmatched translator and interpreter of the Upanishads. And although he found the Advaitic principles to be of the greatest value to mankind, he objectively examined the conflicts within Sankara’s thought in his works. The Philosophy of the Vedanta and the Vedantasara is one such rigorous study of the Vedantic with respect to its innate problems and contradictions.

‘…the Veda, in the great formula “That art Thou” – tat tvam asi – [which] gives in three words the combined sum of metaphysics and morals. You shall love your neighbour as yourselves because you are your neighbour.’

Using the premises of Plator and Kant to solves the fundamental problem of causality posed to the Advaita Vedanta, Deussen paved the way for the dialogue between Indian and western philosophy. In this book, each verse of Sadananda Yogendra’s Vedantasara has been systematically analysed and provided with important critical notes. The Sanskrit verses have also been given in their original script.

Other relevant works of Deussen are The Philosophy of the Upanishads, System of the Vedanta and Sixty Upanishads of the Veda.