Being Different
An Indian Challenge to Western Universalism
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Narrated by:
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Kanchan Bhattacharyya
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By:
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Rajiv Malhotra
About this listen
India is more than a nation state. It is also a unique civilization with philosophies and cosmologies that are markedly distinct from the dominant culture of our times - the West.
India's spiritual traditions spring from dharma, which has no exact equivalent in Western frameworks. Unfortunately, in the rush to celebrate the growing popularity of India on the world stage, its civilizational matrix is being co-opted into Western universalism, thereby diluting its distinctiveness and potential.
In Being Different: An Indian Challenge to Western Universalism, thinker and philosopher Rajiv Malhotra addresses the challenge of a direct and honest engagement on differences by reversing the gaze, repositioning India from being the observed to the observer and looking at the West from the dharmic point of view. In doing so, he challenges many hitherto unexamined beliefs that both sides hold about themselves and each other. He highlights that while unique historical revelations are the basis for Western religions, dharma emphasizes self-realization in the body here and now. He also points out the integral unity that underpins dharma's metaphysics and contrasts this with Western thought and history as a synthetic unity.
Erudite and engaging, Being Different critiques fashionable reductive translations and analyses the West's anxiety over difference and fixation for order which contrast the creative role of chaos in dharma. It concludes with a rebuttal of Western claims of universalism while recommending a multicultural worldview.
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By: Samuel Gregg
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Philosophy: 100 Essential Thinkers
- The Ideas That Have Shaped Our World
- By: Philip Stokes
- Narrated by: Steven Crossley
- Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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This engaging and accessible book invites the listener to explore the questions and arguments of philosophy through the work of 100 of the greatest thinkers within the Western intellectual tradition - covering philosophical, scientific, political, and religious thought over a period of 2500 years.
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Unpretentious, honest, with a big picture
- By Mike S. on 05-29-17
By: Philip Stokes
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On Augustine
- By: Rowan Williams
- Narrated by: Peter Noble
- Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Since his retirement as Archbishop of Canterbury and his return to academic life (Master of Magdalene College Cambridge), Rowan Williams has demonstrated a massive new surge of intellectual energy. In this new audiobook, he turns his attention to St Augustine. St Augustine not only shaped the development of Western theology, he also made a major contribution to political theory ( The City of God) and, through his Confessions, to the understanding of human psychology.
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thoughtful take.
- By Michael McGuire on 04-17-22
By: Rowan Williams
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The History of Philosophy
- By: A. C. Grayling
- Narrated by: Neil Gardner
- Length: 28 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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The story of philosophy is an epic tale, spanning civilizations and continents. It explores some of the most creative minds in history. But not since the long-popular classic by Bertrand Russell, A History of Western Philosophy, published in 1945, has there been a comprehensive and entertaining single-volume history of this great, intellectual, world-shaping journey.
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A much needed update to Bertrand Russell's classic
- By Michael on 06-27-20
By: A. C. Grayling
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The Passion of the Western Mind
- Understanding the Ideas that Have Shaped Our World View
- By: Richard Tarnas
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 21 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Here are the great minds of Western civilization and their pivotal ideas, from Plato to Hegel, from Augustine to Nietzsche, from Copernicus to Freud. Richard Tarnas performs the near-miracle of describing profound philosophical concepts simply but without simplifying them. Ten years in the making and already hailed as a classic, The Passion of the Western Mind is truly a complete liberal education in a single volume.
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Great content, Reader not great
- By M. Henderson on 02-18-23
By: Richard Tarnas
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Between Past and Future
- Eight Exercises in Political Thought
- By: Hannah Arendt
- Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
- Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Hannah Arendt's insightful observations of the modern world, based on a profound knowledge of the past, constitute an impassioned contribution to political philosophy. In Between Past and Future, Arendt describes the perplexing crises modern society faces as a result of the loss of meaning of the traditional key words of politics: justice, reason, responsibility, virtue, and glory. Through a series of eight exercises, she shows how we can redistill the vital essence of these concepts and use them to regain a frame of reference for the future.
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Just stunning
- By Peter Stephens on 02-26-18
By: Hannah Arendt
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The Soul of the World
- By: Roger Scruton
- Narrated by: Tom Stechschulte
- Length: 8 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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In The Soul of the World, renowned philosopher Roger Scruton defends the experience of the sacred against today’s fashionable forms of atheism. He argues that our personal relationships, moral intuitions, and aesthetic judgments hint at a transcendent dimension that cannot be understood through the lens of science alone. To be fully alive - and to understand what we are - is to acknowledge the reality of sacred things.
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"Against Reductionism"
- By Edmund Schilvold on 10-08-15
By: Roger Scruton
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Orientalism
- By: Edward Said
- Narrated by: Peter Ganim
- Length: 19 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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This landmark book, first published in 1978, remains one of the most influential books in the Social Sciences, particularly Ethnic Studies and Postcolonialism. Said is best known for describing and critiquing "Orientalism", which he perceived as a constellation of false assumptions underlying Western attitudes toward the East. In Orientalism Said claimed a "subtle and persistent Eurocentric prejudice against Arabo-Islamic peoples and their culture."
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We're lucky to have this on audio
- By Delano on 02-27-13
By: Edward Said
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Heaven's Gate: America's UFO Religion
- By: Benjamin E. Zeller
- Narrated by: Eric Burns
- Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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In March 1997, 39 people in Rancho Santa Fe, California, ritually terminated their lives. To outsiders, it was a mass suicide. To insiders, it was a graduation. Benjamin Zeller not only explores the question of why the members of Heaven's Gate committed ritual suicides, but interrogates the origin and evolution of the religion, its appeal, and its practices. By tracking the development of the history, social structure, and worldview of Heaven's Gate, Zeller shows that the movement was both a reflection and a microcosm of larger American culture.
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cult apologia.
- By Avery on 06-01-20
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Why You Think the Way You Do
- The Story of Western Worldviews from Rome to Home
- By: Glenn S. Sunshine
- Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
- Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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Why You Think the Way You Do traces the development of the worldviews that underpin the Western world. Professor and historian Glenn S. Sunshine demonstrates the decisive impact that the growth of Christianity had in transforming the outlook of pagan Roman culture into one that—based on biblical concepts of humanity and its relationship with God—established virtually all the positive aspects of Western civilization.
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"Christian's view of the western world"
- By Bradley on 03-21-10
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A Brief History of Fascist Lies
- By: Federico Finchelstein
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
- Length: 3 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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In this short companion to his book From Fascism to Populism in History, world-renowned historian Federico Finchelstein explains why fascists regarded simple and often hateful lies as truth and why so many of their followers believed the falsehoods. Throughout the history of the 20th century, many supporters of fascist ideologies regarded political lies as truth incarnated in their leader. From Hitler to Mussolini, fascist leaders capitalized on lies as the base of their power and popular sovereignty.
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The Monk and the Philosopher
- A Father and Son Discuss the Meaning of Life
- By: Jean-Francois Revel
- Narrated by: David Shaw-Parker
- Length: 14 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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Twenty-seven years ago, Matthieu Ricard gave up a promising career as a scientist to study Tibetan Buddhism - not as a detached observer but by immersing himself in its practice under the guidance of its greatest living masters. Years later, this project was born, and Richard met with his father, Jean-Francois Revel - a French philosopher who became world famous for his challenges to both Communism and Christianity. At an inn, these two profoundly thoughtful men explored questions that have occupied humankind throughout its history.
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The dialogues themselves proved tranquility is attainable.
- By Mingster on 05-16-19
What listeners say about Being Different
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Sarthak Kalani
- 12-27-20
In-depth diff btwn Dharmic and other religions
Loved the content. Clear explanation backed with deep research. The use of purva paksha explains the difference between western concepts and Dharmic ideas without giving in to the anxiousness of unity in diversity.
The richness and beauty in the complexity of real world is systematically accounted for in dharmic traditions. The need of Abrahamic religions to narrowly classify things in dualistic way and its limitations are explained clearly with several examples.
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- Virag Masuraha
- 11-03-20
a great book to understand Hinduism
profound insights simplified in a rational way for today's audience. very thorough research that provides insight into a religion that is complex and vast.
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- suresh kumar
- 07-18-19
brilliant...
This is a brilliant exposition, treatise and analysis of Hinduism Unot its teachings). Being such a heayy subject, I may have to read it once more to flly comprehed. Because the author has taken great pains to dig deep into the subject and give us the purest essence on what is hinduism, how different is itfromother religion, how open the architecture is aparat frombeing welcoming, and how this type of architecture eveloped, how pereptions helped inits formation, what is Sanatana Dharma, how Sanskrit was formed as sound and vibrtion, andh how it gives power to mantras and so on. Eceptional coverage. Please don;t give this a cursory reading.
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- Akshat Chaturvedi
- 03-22-21
a fantastic book. every indianshould read this
Rajiv's research and arguments are very strong. he really makes some eye opening points. everyone should embrace their own uniqueness and Indians should study the purva paksha of the other civilizations and cultural entities
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- Anonymous User
- 12-12-21
The truth finally comes out
Rajiv is brilliant and his painstaking academic research finally puts into words the truth that all Indians know in their heart. We have been relentlessly attacked by western media, pop culture, and education yet with the simple act of even very occasionally visiting our temples and performing our poojas has kept our hearts filled with the truth. Thank Rajiv for giving me the language with which to communicate who & what I am.
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- B. Kristjansson
- 02-25-22
Brilliant work
This is the best book by far on Indian culture and heritage, outlining the difference between the indian and the western culture and way of thinking. Very inspiring and provocative book.
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- JK
- 05-24-24
ESSENTIAL LISTEN
This is a MUST listen for every Indian and non-Indian.
I have a background of studying Hinduism and Buddhism and I certainly found that helpful.
In that context I have also read many books about India and this one is on top of my list, totally seen from a different perspective.
I now am going to listen to “ Snakes in the Ganga”, by the same author.
The outline of the PDF is helpful and informative.
The narrator, mr. Kanchan Bhattacharyya did an excellent job, the right choice for this book.
My thanks to all involved, JK.
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- Sambeet M.
- 09-13-18
A very profound read!
I used audible to listen to it. I like the narration with logic, reasoning, sense of eastern view point with the narration style. Memorable points wold be how points are made: without fallacies, simple to understand and remember, clear and precisive. I like the author's use of "I" or an expression rather than the third person view that is so prevalent in many other. Very clear stand point, so one don't have to infer who is speaking. I dislike use of some heavy words, but that might be just me or subjective. PS: It is my experience and opinion, form your own please don't judge.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Shrey
- 07-16-20
Dharmic way of Life
A must read for every self respecting Indian who values the ancient Indian traditions and follows the Dharmic way of life, irrespective of religious faith.
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- Nitin
- 10-20-20
Absolutely essential for all
This book reminds me of this quote “We shall not cease from exploration, And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started, And know the place for the first time."
I knew most of this at some intuitive level but never crystalized. Grew up in India went to a Christian school, learnt both Christianity at school and Hinduism through culture and stories. This book is critical in expressing and challenging the Dogmatic Supremacist Western approach to philosophy & logic whilst pitting alternatives from the Hindu thought.
I bought the kindle version too for reference.
Excellent much needed work.
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