Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★★ (4.7/5)
Genre: Philosophy, Religion, Comparative Religion, Indology

Book Review:
Hermann Oldenberg's ''The Doctrine of the Upanisads and the Early Buddhism,'' now available for the first time in an excellent English translation by Dr. Shridhar B. Shrotri, is a landmark work of comparative philosophy that has lost none of its relevance or power since its original publication in 1908. It is an indispensable resource for anyone seeking to understand the profound intellectual and spiritual connections between two of India's most influential traditions.

Oldenberg, a renowned German Indologist, was a master of rigorous, scholarly analysis. In this book, he undertakes a systematic comparison of the fundamental doctrines of the Upanishads, the philosophical texts at the core of Hinduism, and the teachings of early Buddhism. He explores their shared concerns with the nature of the self, the cycle of rebirth, the problem of suffering, and the path to liberation. At the same time, he carefully delineates the crucial differences between the Upanishadic concept of an eternal, unchanging Self (Atman) and the Buddhist doctrine of not-self (Anatta).

The book is remarkable for its extensive range, covering a vast array of themes with depth and precision. Oldenberg's scholarship is formidable, but his prose is clear and accessible, making complex ideas understandable to the dedicated reader. He draws on a deep knowledge of the original texts in Pali and Sanskrit, providing a solid foundation for his arguments.

This English translation by Dr. Shrotri is a major contribution to Indological literature. Shrotri is equally at home in English and German, and his translation captures the clarity and rigor of Oldenberg's original. The book has been beautifully produced by Motilal Banarsidass.

As reviewers have noted, this is a ''masterpiece of intellectual inquiry and original thinking,'' a ''solid contribution to the thought of the Upanishads,'' and a work of ''invaluable help to a student of comparative philosophy.'' For scholars, students, and anyone with a serious interest in Indian philosophy, ''The Doctrine of the Upanisads and the Early Buddhism'' is essential reading.