Introduction to the Study of the Hindu Doctrines

FOREWORD

PART ONE: PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS

CHAPTER I – East and West
CHAPTER II – The Divergence
CHAPTER III – The Classical Prejudice Refers to the Western tendency to view all civilization through the lens of Ancient Greece and Rome.
CHAPTER IV – The Relations of Ancient Peoples
CHAPTER V – Questions of Chronology
CHAPTER VI – Linguistic Difficulties

PART TWO: GENERAL MODES OF ORIENTAL THOUGHT

CHAPTER I – The Great Divisions of the East
CHAPTER II – Principles of Unity in Oriental Civilizations
CHAPTER III – What is Meant by Tradition? In this context, Tradition refers to a primordial, divinely inspired wisdom passed down through generations.
CHAPTER IV – Tradition and Religion
CHAPTER V – Essential Characteristics of Metaphysics The branch of philosophy dealing with the first principles of things, including abstract concepts such as being, knowing, and identity.
CHAPTER VI – Relations between Metaphysics and Theology
CHAPTER VII – Symbolism and Anthropomorphism
CHAPTER VIII – Metaphysical Thought and Philosophical Thought
CHAPTER IX – Esotericism and Exotericism Inner/private vs. outer/public teachings.
CHAPTER X – Metaphysical Realization

PART THREE: HINDU DOCTRINES

CHAPTER I – Precise Meaning of the Word "Hindu"
CHAPTER II – The Perpetuity of the Veda original: "Véda"; the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism.
CHAPTER III – Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy
CHAPTER IV – Concerning Buddhism
CHAPTER V – The Law of Manu In Hindu tradition, the archetypal lawgiver and progenitor of humanity.
CHAPTER VI – Principle of the Institution of Castes
CHAPTER VII – Shaivism and Vaishnavism The two largest branches of Hinduism, focused on the deities Shiva and Vishnu.
CHAPTER VIII – The Points of View of the Doctrine
CHAPTER IX – The Nyâya The school of logic.
CHAPTER X – The Vaishêshika The school of atomism or physics.
CHAPTER XI – The Sânkhya The school of dualistic cosmology.
CHAPTER XII – The Yoga The school of meditative practice and union.
CHAPTER XIII – The Mîmânsâ The school of ritual interpretation.
CHAPTER XIV – The Vêdânta The school focusing on the end or essence of the Vedas.
CHAPTER XV – Complementary Remarks on the Doctrine as a Whole
CHAPTER XVI – Traditional Teaching

PART FOUR: WESTERN INTERPRETATIONS