The Routledge Handbook of Indian Buddhist Philosophy (Routledge Handbooks in Philosophy)

703 Pages·2022·7.397 MB·English

by  William Edelglass (editor), Pierre-Julien Harter (editor), Sara McClintock (editor)

‘A splendid and comprehensive study of Buddhist philosophy in its country of origin. The
Routledge Handbook of Indian Buddhist Philosophy is an important addition to the global
philosophy movement.’
– Owen Flanagan, Duke University, USA
‘With an emphasis on the creative originality of key historical philosophers, and with a line-up
of the finest scholars in Buddhist philosophy, this volume is sure to become an indispensable
resource for teachers and scholars alike, and also serve as a magnificent introduction to the
dynamism and potentiality of the field.’
– Jonardon Ganeri, University of Toronto, Canada
‘This carefully edited volume provides an understanding of Indian Buddhist philosophy
through the study of the authorial figures that shaped its schools and doctrines. From the early
discourses to the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, a picture emerges of an active intellectual enterprise
devoted to the exploration of some of the most profound issues in philosophy.’
– Anita Avramides, University of Oxford, UK
‘An amazing resource for scholar and student alike, the chapters in this book, written by the
very best scholars in the field, masterfully introduce the life and thought of the major figures
of Indian Buddhist philosophy in clear and readable prose. There is no book quite like it. The
next time I teach a course on this subject, this book will be atop the reading list.’
– José Ignacio Cabezón, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA
‘This Handbook is a landmark contribution to the field, offering superb coverage of the
principal Indian Buddhist philosophers and showcasing the breadth and depth of one of the
world’s richest philosophical traditions. It will be an essential reference work for scholars and
students alike for years to come.’
– Evan Thompson, University of British Columbia, Canada
‘This is a great resource for all those who want to learn more about Indian Buddhism and its
philosophical traditions. It explores in great depth many different aspects of these rich traditions
and will be an invaluable resource for those interested in further exploring Indian Buddhist
philosophy.’
– Georges Dreyfus, Williams College, USA

THE ROUTLEDGE HANDBOOK OF
INDIAN BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY
The Routledge Handbook of Indian Buddhist Philosophy is the first scholarly reference
volume to highlight the diversity and individuality of a large number of the most influential
philosophers to have contributed to the evolution of Buddhist thought in India. By placing the
author at the center of inquiry, the volume highlights the often unrecognized innovation and
multiplicity of India’s Buddhist thinkers, whose unique contributions are commonly subsumed
in more general doctrinal presentations of philosophical schools. Here, instead, the reader is
invited to explore the works and ideas of India’s most important Buddhist philosophers in a
manner that takes seriously the weight of their philosophical thought.
The forty chapters by an international and interdisciplinary team of renowned contributors
each seek to offer both a wide-ranging overview and a philosophically astute reading of the
works of the most seminal Indian Buddhist authors from the earliest writings to the twentieth
century. The volume thus also provides thorough coverage of all the main figures, texts,
traditions, and debates animating Indian Buddhist thought, and as such can serve as an in-depth
introduction to Buddhist philosophy in India for those new to the field.
Essential reading for students and researchers in Asian and comparative philosophy, The
Routledge Handbook of Indian Buddhist Philosophy is also an excellent resource for specialists
in Buddhist philosophy, as well as for contemporary philosophers interested in learning about
the rigorous and rich traditions of Buddhist philosophy in India.
William Edelglass is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Emerson College and Director of
Studies at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, USA.
Pierre-Julien Harter is Assistant Professor of Philosophy and The Robert H.N. Ho Family
Foundation Professor of Philosophy in Buddhist Studies at University of New Mexico, USA.
Sara McClintock is Associate Professor of Religion at Emory University, USA.
ROUTLEDGE HANDBOOKS IN PHILOSOPHY
Routledge Handbooks in Philosophy are state-of-the-art surveys of emerging, newly refreshed,
and important fields in philosophy, providing accessible yet thorough assessments of key
problems, themes, thinkers, and recent developments in research.
All chapters for each volume are specially commissioned, and written by leading scholars
in the field. Carefully edited and organized, Routledge Handbooks in Philosophy provide
indispensable reference tools for students and researchers seeking a comprehensive overview
of new and exciting topics in philosophy. They are also valuable teaching resources as
accompaniments to textbooks, anthologies, and research-orientated publications.
Also available:
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THE ROUTLEDGE HANDBOOK OF INDIAN BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY
Edited by William Edelglass, Pierre-Julien Harter, and Sara McClintock
For more information about this series, please visit: www.routledge.com/Routledge-Hand
books-in-Philosophy/book-series/RHP
THE ROUTLEDGE
HANDBOOK OF INDIAN
BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY
Edited by William Edelglass, Pierre-Julien Harter
and Sara McClintock
Cover image: © Getty Images
First published 2023
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa
business
© 2023 selection and editorial matter William Edelglass, Pierre-Julien
Harter, and Sara McClintock; individual chapters, the contributors
The right of William Edelglass, Pierre-Julien Harter, and Sara McClintock
to be identified as the authors of the editorial material, and of the authors
for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with
sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in
any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing
from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation
without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: McClintock, Sara L., editor. | Edelglass, William, editor. | Harter,
Pierre-Julien, editor.
Title: The Routledge handbook of Indian Buddhist philosophy/edited by
William Edelglass, Pierre-Julien Harter, and Sara McClintock.
Description: 1. | New York City: Routledge, 2022. | Series: Routledge
handbooks in philosophy | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2022001712 (print) | LCCN 2022001713 (ebook) |
ISBN 9781138492257 (hardback) | ISBN 9781032301952 (paperback) |
ISBN 9781351030908 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Buddhism – Philosophy. | Buddhism – India. |
Buddhist philosophy.
Classification: LCC B162. R68 2022 (print) | LCC B162 (ebook) |
DDC 294.3 – dc23/eng/20220202
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022001712
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022001713
ISBN: 978-1-138-49225-7 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-30195-2 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-351-03090-8 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781351030908
Typeset in Times New Roman
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
I think those with wisdom drink something else, something that gives strength, is
delicious and irresistible, they drink like travelers who gulp rain just fallen from a
dark cloud.
– Sukka, from the Therīgāthā,
translated by Charles Hallisey
Thought is not calmed without speaking words.
Scholars will know which words have weight and which are drivel.
Through long habituation, those who are attached to their own positions, having
lapsed into hostile intent, do not believe others even when they speak what is true
and beneficial. But scholars, remaining unbiased toward both the trustworthy and
the untrustworthy, understand through intellectual examination the meaning of
both the proponent’s and the opponent’s position. Having analyzed whether this or
that word has weight or not, they should speak accordingly. . . . Fittingly, scholars
will amuse themselves by analyzing your words and our words, saying “this has
weight” and “this is drivel.”
– Bhāviveka, the Heart of the Middle, verse 4.74,
with commentary from the Flame of Logic

For all the myriad embodied hearts and minds who have conceptualized,
composed, taught, remembered, copied, promulgated, edited, translated,
debated, explained, wrestled with, and provided for the texts and ideas that
form the ground from which this book has grown.