Originally published in 1973. The volume is divided into four sections: The introduction places the position of the Buddhist Tantras within Mahayana Buddhism and recalls their early literary history, especially the Guhyasamahatantra; the section also covers Buddhist Genesis and the Tantric tradition. The foundations of the Buddhist Tantras are discussed and the Tantric presentation of divinity; the preparation of disciples and the meaning of initiation; symbolism of the mandala-palace Tantric ritual and the twilight language. This section explores the Tantric teachings (...) of the inner Zodiac and the fivefold ritual symbolism of passion. The bibliographical research contains an analysis of the Tantric section of the Kanjur exegesis and a selected Western Bibliography of the Buddhist Tantras with comments. (shrink)

Three doctrines have often been identified in the context of Hindu civilization as its distinctive markers: the doctrine of the varṇas (or the doctrine of the four classes), the doctrine of āśramas (or the doctrine of the four stages of life), and the doctrine of the puruṣārthas (or the doctrine of the four goals of life). The study of the last of these has been comparatively neglected and the doctrine has even been dubbed a myth (Krishna 1996, 189-205). The purpose (...) of this article is twofold: to establish the cogency of the doctrine of the puruṣārthas in the face of such criticism and to indicate the directions in which the doctrine could be developed further. (shrink)

The Quest After Perfection, first published in 1952, is a collection of eight remarkable essays on Indian philosophy by Prof. M. Hiriyanna. The learned professor discusses at great length the topic of values, a subject that has received much attention the world over. In his own words, "Indian philosophy is essentially a philosophy of values." With great clarity, he cogitates upon Truth, Goodness, and Beauty-often called the 'eternal values' in the Western tradition. He also expounds the traditional Indian idea of (...) the purusharthas, or the goals of human life-dharma (sustainability), artha (wealth), kama (desire), moksha (release)-by sharing thoughtful insights on them. (shrink)