Dharma and Detachment: Writings on Indian and Tibetan Thought

<p>Simone Weil was one of the most profound and thought-provoking thinkers of the twentieth century. An intellectual prodigy from an early age in both the sciences and the arts she was at different times a teacher factory and farm labourer and political activist spending a brief period in Spain during the Spanish Civil War. Her writings which span philosophy politics religion and spirituality are marked by a both passionate and contemplative attempt to understand profound questions about the good God human thought and action and suffering and beauty.</p><p>However considerably less known is Weil's fascination with the texts and ideas of Indian and Tibetan thought which she both thought and wrote about extensively. <i>Dharma and Detachment: Writings on Indian and Tibetan Thought</i> is the first volume to draw together some of Weil's most interesting and important writings on eastern thought.</p><p>Expertly edited and introduced by Nicolas Bommarito the anthology contains writings drawn from Weil's extensive <i>Notebooks</i>. The extracts show how she moves seamlessly between Plato Catholicism mathematics the <em>Bhagavad-Gītā</em> and Buddhism engaging with texts in the original Sanskrit. To help the reader gain a full insight into Weil's thought the volume also includes – along with Weil's own writings – key passages from the classical texts that inspired her especially the <em>Bhagavad-</em><em>Gīt</em><em>ā</em> and the <i>Upanis</i>.<i>ads</i>.</p><p>In addition to a helpful Introduction by Nicolas Bommarito setting out the background to Weil's life and her engagement with Indo-Tibetan texts he also explains fundamental Indo-Tibetan philosophical terms such as <em>ā</em><em>tman</em> the three <i>gunòas</i> <i>karma </i>and detachment. A glossary is also included making the volume an ideal starting point for those unfamiliar with Indo-Tibetan philosophy and seeking a clear path into Weil's engagement with these texts and ideas.</p><p><i>Dharma and Detachment: Writings on Indian and Tibetan Thought</i> will be of great interest to all readers and students of Simone Weil's work as well as to those interested in Indian and Tibetan philosophy religion and phenomenology.</p>