New Perspectives on Advaita Vedanta

This volume is a collection of essays by leading scholars who treat various aspects of the Hindu thinker Samkara (ca. 700 CE) and his system of Advaita Vedanta.Topics include the contemporary relevance of Samkara for inter-religious dialogue and human rights as well as revised assessments of Samkara's understanding of divine grace, the role of the gods, Buddhism, Samkara's relation to later Advaita, and the unity of the Self. The introductory essay of this commemoration volume assesses the place and value of Richard De Smet's work in the context of twentieth century Samkara scholarship.The contributors break new scholarly ground and offer fresh perspectives on Samkara and Advaita Vedanta and help reassess traditional understandings of this great master of non-duality.