Śāntarakṣita and Kamalaśīla on the Advaita Vedanta Theory of a Self

Authors

James Duerlinger, University of IowaFollow
Binita Mehta, Texas State UniversityFollow
Siddharth Singh, Banaras Hindu UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Abstract

In this article we assess Śāntarakṣita’s and Kamalaśīla’s critique of the Advaita Vedānta theory of self. We provide a translation of the verses 328-335 of the commentary titled Tattvasaṃgrahapañjikā, which was composed by Kamalaśīla on Śāntarakṣita’s Tattvasaṃgraha. We present Śāntarakṣita’s and Kamalaśīla’s views of a self and also explain the Advaita Vedānta theory based on the texts of Śaṅkara. It is concluded in the article that Śāntarakṣita and Kamalaśīla failed to consider the most likely Advaitin replies to their objections, especially the reply that cognitions of objects are illusory rather than real modifications, since the critique assumed that they were real modifications.

Recommended Citation

Duerlinger, James; Mehta, Binita; and Singh, Siddharth (2021) "Śāntarakṣita and Kamalaśīla on the Advaita Vedanta Theory of a Self," The Indian International Journal of Buddhist Studies: Vol. 21, Article 3.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/iijbs/vol21/iss1/3