{"product_id":"9781350671737","title":"Philosophy of Joy in the Upanishads The Delight in Existence","description":"\u003ch1\u003ePhilosophy of Joy in the Upanishads\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003ch2\u003eThe Delight in Existence\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ch3\u003eStephen Phillips\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003ePhilosophy \/ Eastern\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn exploration of the nature of joy and delight through the lens of classical Indian philosophy.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn this study, Stephen Phillips conveys the experiential and philosophical richness of the concept of ananda. Often translated as “joy,” “bliss,” or “delight,” it occupies a central place in the early Upanisads (c. 800–400 BCE). While no single English word fully captures its meaning, Phillips explains why ananda has been appropriated by philosophies around the world.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePhillips focuses on the earliest formulations in the Upanisads, where it is closely linked to meditation. He addresses differing interpretations, from the possibility of entering a state of profound delight by setting aside desires to ananda as intrinsic to the self (atman), revealed rather than produced in meditation.\u003cbr\u003eDrawing on teachings of influential figures such as Shankara and Abhinavagupta, together with modern Indian thinkers like Tagore and Aurobindo, Phillips engages with prominent Indologists and contemporary scholars. He discusses philosophers including Descartes, Hume, and Rawls alongside Milton and Kipling.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePhillips shows how ananda has become a cornerstone of spiritual inquiry and practice across Indian traditions, including Vedantic, yogic, tantric, later Buddhist, and Jain contexts. His inclusive and comprehensive approach highlights the universality of reflections on joy, consciousness, and human experience.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eStephen Phillips\u003c\/b\u003e is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Asian Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, USA. He has been Visiting Professor of Philosophy at the University of Hawaii, USA and Jadavpur University, India. He is the co-editor of \u003ci\u003eThe Nyaya-sutra: Selections with Early Commentaries,\u003c\/i\u003e 2017), and \u003ci\u003eGod and the World's Arrangement\u003c\/i\u003e (2021).\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublication Date: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15 April 2027\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublisher: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBloomsbury Academic\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eImprint: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBloomsbury Academic\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eISBN-13: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9781350671737\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFormat: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHardback\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePage Count: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e208\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWeight (oz): \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e16.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e","brand":"Bloomsbury Academic","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55553037729932,"sku":"9781350671737","price":103.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/lateknightbooks.com\/products\/9781350671737","provider":"Late Knight Books and Services, LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}