Reflections on Martin Buber’s Approach to Upaniʂads and Vedānta

Abstract

ABSTRACT Martin Buber engaged with the Upaniʂadic thought and found it essentially mystical and not conducive to man-God dialogue, where dialogue is understood as an I-Thou relation in which the I and the “other” do not become one. This paper presents a response to Buber’s critique of Upaniʂadic thought by arguing for the need to understand the differences between the Upaniʂads and Vedānta. In this attempt, the paper discusses Buber’s critique of Vedānta as monological in comparison to his dialogical thought. Further, it delineates the differences and similarities between Buber’s thought and Vedāntic thought concerning their understanding of man, man’s knowledge of the divine, and the relationships between man and divinity. Lastly, the paper situates Buber’s critique in comparison to the various Vedāntin philosophies.