Dear Matthew,

In the Jain tradition, HaribhadrasUri uses Astika in the same way in his 
SaDdarzanasamuccaya.
 
Yes, we’re several tangents away from my original question; but I have found 
this conversation thread highly engaging and useful.

All the best!

Jeff

> On Jun 27, 2024, at 6:56 AM, Matthew Kapstein via INDOLOGY 
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> 
> This has all departed quite far from the original topic of the thread.
> 
> In any case, the Astika-nAstika distinction was fluid and not always used to 
> mean the same things. So the fixed idea that it means orthodox/heterodox is 
> not always warranted.
> The Buddhist KamalaziIla, for example, uses Astika to refer to all who affirm 
> karma-saMsAra,
> including the Buddhist and Jains.
> 
> Matthew T. Kapstein
> Professor emeritus
> Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, PSL Research University, Paris
> 
> Associate
> The University of Chicago Divinity School
> 
> https://ephe.academia.edu/MatthewKapstein
> 
> https://vajrabookshop.com/product/the-life-and-work-of-auleshi/
> 
> https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501716218/tibetan-manuscripts-and-early-printed-books-volume-i/#bookTabs=1
> 
> https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501771255/tibetan-manuscripts-and-early-printed-books-volume-ii/#bookTabs=1
> 
> https://brill.com/edcollbook/title/60949
> 
> Sent with Proton Mail <https://proton.me/> secure email.
> 
> On Thursday, June 27th, 2024 at 11:46 AM, Nagaraj Paturi via INDOLOGY 
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>> <image.png>
>> <image.png>
>> <image.png>
>> 
>> On Thu, Jun 27, 2024 at 1:36 PM Nagaraj Paturi <[email protected] 
>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
>>> Thanks, Prof. Bronkhorst for sharing this interesting article.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Thu, Jun 27, 2024 at 9:46 AM Johannes Bronkhorst via INDOLOGY 
>>> <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
>>>> There is a discussion of the use of āstika and nāstika in a number of 
>>>> texts (including the remarkable use of nāstika in the 
>>>> Sarvadarśanasaṃgraha) in the following article:
>>>> The structure of the Sarvadarśanasaṃgraha." Journal of Indian Philosophy 
>>>> 49(4), 2021, 523-534. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10781-021-09474-1. (From p. 
>>>> 530 on)
>>>> Best wishes,
>>>> Johannes Bronkhorst
>>>> 
>>>>> On 26 Jun 2024, at 22:48, Howard Resnick via INDOLOGY 
>>>>> <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> Thank you Lubomir!
>>>>> 
>>>>> Best,
>>>>> Howard
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Jun 25, 2024, at 9:02 AM, Lubomír Ondračka <[email protected] 
>>>>>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> For an overview of the history of the terms āstika and nāstika, see the 
>>>>>> chapter:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> “Affirmers (āstikas) and Deniers (nāstikas) in Indian History”, in 
>>>>>> Andrew J. Nicholson, Unifying Hinduism: Philosophy and Identity in 
>>>>>> Indian Intellectual History, New York: Columbia University Press, 2010, 
>>>>>> pp. 166–184.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> L.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> On 25/06/2024 13:54, Howard Resnick via INDOLOGY wrote:
>>>>>>> Dear Nagaraj,
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> You indicate that āstika and nāstika are Indian neologisms, but these 
>>>>>>> words are common in earlier Sanskrit literature. I give a few examples 
>>>>>>> below.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> But , as almost all in this group know, these two words aastka and 
>>>>>>>> naastika were not in reference to the existence or no existence of God 
>>>>>>>> in the traditional Vaidika discourse.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> There are a number instances of āstikyam in the Mahābhārata, and the 
>>>>>>> context seems to indicate the word is being used in the sense of 
>>>>>>> believing in the existence of God. Here is just a partial list of 
>>>>>>> occurences of āstikya and nāstikya in the Mahābhārata:
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> MBh 1.1.181, 2.5.96, 6.40.42, 12.12.25, 12.59.66,
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> And in the Gītā 18.42
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Bhāgavata-purāṇa: 1.16.28, 7.11.23, 11.17.18, 11.19.33
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> In all these cases, the word seems to be used in the MW sense of 
>>>>>>> "belief in God, piety, faithfulness.”
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Best wishes,
>>>>>>> Howard
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> On Jun 25, 2024, at 2:16 AM, Nagaraj Paturi via INDOLOGY 
>>>>>>>> <[email protected]> <mailto:[email protected]> 
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Dear Prof. Jeffrey Long, 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 'existence' , interestingly enough, is part of the contemporary 
>>>>>>>> neologisms in the discourse related to religion in the contemporary 
>>>>>>>> Indian languages. 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Words aastka and naastika are the neologisms formed and in use as the 
>>>>>>>> Indian language replacements for 'theist' and 'atheist' of English. 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> But , as almost all in this group know, these two words aastka and 
>>>>>>>> naastika were not in reference to the existence or no existence of God 
>>>>>>>> in the traditional Vaidika discourse.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> asti and naasti, in the traditional Vaidika discourse , refer to the 
>>>>>>>> existence and no existence of praamaanya for Sruti or existence or no 
>>>>>>>> existence of paralokas , svarga, naraka or mokshalokas (such as 
>>>>>>>> vaikuntha, goloka, kailaasa, manidveepa etc.)
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> The root sat for exist as found in the word satya is part of the 
>>>>>>>> debates within Vedanta about the satyatva or mithyaatva of the 
>>>>>>>> category called Jagat , but not about a category comparable to God. 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Category comparable to God, or a category often conflated with or 
>>>>>>>> confused for God in the Vaidika darshanas including Vedanta, is " 
>>>>>>>> eeshvara ".
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Classificational categories seshvara and nireeshvara used in reference 
>>>>>>>> to different Vaidika darshanas are not about the existence or no 
>>>>>>>> existence of " eeshvara ". It is about whether the category of " 
>>>>>>>> eeshvara ". is necessary to account for things , (entities, processes 
>>>>>>>> and relationships etc.)
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Within Vedanta, brahman and eeshvara , categories comparable to God, 
>>>>>>>> are not discussed for existence or no existence of the 
>>>>>>>> category/entity. 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Another existence or no existence discussion within Bharatiya 
>>>>>>>> Darshanas seems to be around aatman and that is between Vedanta and an 
>>>>>>>> avaidika darshana, say Baudha darshana . If anattaa is no existence of 
>>>>>>>> aatman, then this can be seen to be around the question of existence. 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> In Vedanta, because of the equivalence of Brahman and aatman at a 
>>>>>>>> certain level, this, if it is actually around the existence or no 
>>>>>>>> existence of aatman, can be seen to be, at least remotely, connected 
>>>>>>>> to the existence or no existence of a category comparable to God.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> On Sun, Jun 23, 2024 at 9:47 PM Jeffery Long via INDOLOGY 
>>>>>>>> <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> 
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> Dear Colleagues,
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Forgive me if this question has already been raised at some point on 
>>>>>>>>> this list.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Are any of you aware of arguments developed in Indian philosophical 
>>>>>>>>> systems akin to the ontological arguments for the existence of God 
>>>>>>>>> raised by St. Anselm? The closest thing I can think of is Śaṅkara’s 
>>>>>>>>> argument that existence is self-evident.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> With much gratitude in advance,
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Jeff
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Dr. Jeffery D. Long
>>>>>>>>> Carl W. Zeigler Professor of Religion, Philosophy, & Asian Studies
>>>>>>>>> School of Arts & Humanities
>>>>>>>>> Elizabethtown College
>>>>>>>>> Elizabethtown, PA
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> https://etown.academia.edu/JefferyLong
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Series Editor, Explorations in Indic Traditions: Ethical, 
>>>>>>>>> Philosophical, and Theological
>>>>>>>>> Lexington Books
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> “One who makes a habit of prayer and meditation will easily overcome 
>>>>>>>>> all difficulties and remain calm and unruffled in the midst of the 
>>>>>>>>> trials of life.” (Holy Mother Sarada Devi)
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> “We are a way for the Cosmos to know itself.” (Carl Sagan)
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>> INDOLOGY mailing list
>>>>>>>>> [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
>>>>>>>>> https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>> Nagaraj Paturi
>>>>>>>> Hyderabad, Telangana, INDIA.
>>>>>>>> Dean, IndicA
>>>>>>>> BoS, MIT School of Vedic Sciences, Pune, Maharashtra
>>>>>>>> BoS Kavikulaguru Kalidasa Sanskrit University, Ramtek, Maharashtra
>>>>>>>> BoS Veda Vijnana Gurukula, Bengaluru.
>>>>>>>> Member, Advisory Council, Veda Vijnana Shodha Samsthanam, Bengaluru
>>>>>>>> Former Senior Professor of Cultural Studies,
>>>>>>>> FLAME School of Communication and FLAME School of Liberal Education,
>>>>>>>> Hyderabad, Telangana, INDIA.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> INDOLOGY mailing list
>>>>>>>> [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
>>>>>>>> https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> INDOLOGY mailing list
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>>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> INDOLOGY mailing list
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>>>> 
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> 
>>> 
>>> --
>>> Nagaraj Paturi
>>> Hyderabad, Telangana, INDIA.
>>> Dean, IndicA
>>> BoS, MIT School of Vedic Sciences, Pune, Maharashtra
>>> BoS Kavikulaguru Kalidasa Sanskrit University, Ramtek, Maharashtra
>>> BoS Veda Vijnana Gurukula, Bengaluru.
>>> Member, Advisory Council, Veda Vijnana Shodha Samsthanam, Bengaluru
>>> Former Senior Professor of Cultural Studies,
>>> FLAME School of Communication and FLAME School of Liberal Education,
>>> Hyderabad, Telangana, INDIA.
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> Nagaraj Paturi
>> Hyderabad, Telangana, INDIA.
>> Dean, IndicA
>> BoS, MIT School of Vedic Sciences, Pune, Maharashtra
>> BoS Kavikulaguru Kalidasa Sanskrit University, Ramtek, Maharashtra
>> BoS Veda Vijnana Gurukula, Bengaluru.
>> Member, Advisory Council, Veda Vijnana Shodha Samsthanam, Bengaluru
>> Former Senior Professor of Cultural Studies,
>> FLAME School of Communication and FLAME School of Liberal Education,
>> Hyderabad, Telangana, INDIA.
>> 
> 
> 
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