Amrtam

[Gary J Hausman]

The relation between external alchemy (gold deposits in the earth, etc.)
and internal alchemy (the alchemy of the body) is quite explicitly
articulated in Chinese medicine, as well as South Indian Siddha practices.
For an entire volume on this topic, see part V, of Volume 5, of Science
and Civilization in China by Joseph Needham on 'Physiological Alchemy.'
Joseph Needham argues that Chinese 'physiological alchemy' was deeply
influenced by Indian yogic practices.

			Gary Hausman
			Columbia University

On Fri, 31 Jan 1997, Patricia Meredith Greer wrote:

> You would be very interested to see a new book by David G. White,
> _Alchemical Body_, U Chicago.  He deals with the issue you mention, and
> much more!
> Patricia Greer
> UVA
> On Fri, 31 Jan 1997, Dr. S. Kalyanaraman
> wrote:
> 
> > This subject of death in ancient India, brings to mind one nagging lexical issue:
> > amrtam.
> > 
> > amrtam has alchemical overtones; it seems to refer
> > to the imperishable nature of gold as the early seekers
> > found means to smelt rocks, extract and purify the metal.
> > And hence, extension of the concept of imperishability
> > to the body...??
> > 
> > Regards, Kalyanaraman.
> > 
> > 
> > At 12:53 AM 1/31/97 GMT, you wrote:
> > >
> > >In April 1994, Prof. Lance Nelson posted the following references to
> > >INDOLOGY, re: death and dying in advaita vedanta. They should be useful. 
> > >
> > >R. Balasubramanian, "The Advaita View of Death and Immortality," in Death
> > >and Immortality in the Religions of the World, ed. Paul and Linda Badham
> > >(New York: Paragon House, 1987), 121ff.
> > >
> > >Debabrata Sinha, "On Immortality and Death--Notes in a Vedantic
> > >Perspective" in Perspectives on Vedanta: Essays in Honor of Professor P.
> > >T. Raju, ed. S. S. Rama Rao Pappu (Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1988), 170-181.
> > >
> > >S. Vidyasankar
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>