Sutras, Stories and Yoga Philosophy

This book presents a close reading of four Indian narratives from different time periods (epic, Upani adic, pre-modern and contemporary): Ekalavya's story from the Mahabharata (MBh 1.123.1-39), the story of Prajapati, Indra and Virochana from the Chandogya Upanisad (CU 8.7.1-8.12.5), the story of Sankara in the King's body from the Sankaradigvijaya, and A.R. Murugadoss's Hindi film Ghajini (2008), respectively. These stories are thematically juxtaposed with Patañjala-yoga, namely Patañjali's Yogasutra and its vast commentarial body. The sutras reveal hidden philosophical layers. The stories, on the other hand, contribute to the clarification of "philosophical junctions" in the Yogasutra. Through sutras and stories, the author explores the question of self-identity, with emphasis on the role of memory and the place of body in identity-formation. Each of the stories diagnoses the connection between self-identity and (at least a sense of) freedom.

Employing cutting-edge methodology, crossing the boundaries of literary theory, story-telling, and philosophical reflection, this book presents fresh interpretations of Indian thought. It is useful to specialists in Asian philosophy and culture.

Autorentext

Daniel Raveh is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at Tel-Aviv University, Israel.

Inhalt

Introduction: Stories and Sutras

1. Truth versus Truthfulness in the Mahabharata Story of Ekalavya

2. Is Mok a Pleasant? An Alternative Discourse on Freedom in the 8th chapter of the Chandogya-Upani ad

3. Shankara in the King's Body: Knowing by Living Through

4. Memory, Forgetting, Self-identity: Philosophical Inscriptions in A.R. Murugadoss' *Ghajini *