New Books in Philosophy

Stephen Phillips, "The Metaphysics of Meditation: Sri Aurobindo and Adi-Sakara on the Isa Upanisad" (Bloombury, 2024)

Mar 20, 2024

Stephen Phillips discusses the metaphysics of meditation in Vedanta, exploring the Isa Upanishad. Topics include mystical practices, the nature of reality, limitations of language, and the problem of evil. The podcast touches on translations of Shankara's theodicy, the disciplines of meditation, and action in the Bhagavad Gita commentary.

01:03:35

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Stephen Phillips

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Quick takeaways

Stephen Phillips explores the unity between Aurobindo and Shankara in their analysis of the Isa Upanisad.

The Metaphysics of Meditation delves into the epistemology of meditative practices and the limitations of human language.

Deep dives

Main Ideas and Concepts of the Isha Upanishad

The Isha Upanishad is a central text in Vedanta philosophy, focusing on metaphysical reflection and meditation. Ancient commentators like Shankaracharya and modern figures like Sri Aurobindo deeply engage with the Upanishad's 18 verses that emphasize a mystical experience and the unknowability of Brahman in Advaita Vedanta. The Upanishad, along with other early texts, significantly influence Vedantic metaphysical reasoning and yogic meditative practices, highlighting the importance of this short yet profound text.

Intro

3min

Metaphysical Aspects of Vedanta Philosophy

35min

Exploring the Objectivity of Mystical Discoveries Across Traditions

1min

Exploration of Hymns, Poetry, and Aesthetic Experiences in Advaita Traditions

5min

Translating Philosophical Texts in Classical Indian Philosophy

12min

Exploring Late Advaita Vedanta, the Problem of Ananda, and the Philosophy of Beauty

3min

In The Metaphysics of Meditation: Sri Aurobindo and Ādi Śaṅkara on the Īśā Upaniṣad (Bloomsbury 2024), Stephen Phillips argues that the two titular Vedānta philosophers are not as opposed as commonly thought. His book is structured as a series of essays on Aurobindo and Śaṅkara’s analysis of the early, important, and brief Īśā Upaniṣad, also including a new English translation of the text along with a translation of Śaṅkara’s commentary thereupon. Philosophically, the book investigates questions about what is metaphysically fundamental, the epistemology of mystical, meditative practices such as yoga, the limitations of human language in expressing the ineffable—and the role of poetry in these efforts, and the problem of evil facing even panentheistic monists such as Advaita Vedāntins. In many ways an introduction to Advaita Vedānta, The Metaphysics of Meditation also includes new translations of Śaṅkara’s theodicy from his Brahmasūtra commentary and his discussion of the disciplines (yogas) of meditation and action in his Bhagavad Gītā commentary.

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