Sunya and Nothingness : In Science, Philosophy and Religion

Contents: Preface. Introduction. I. Elementary concepts: 1. Zero in arithmetic. 2. Commonsense zero and relative zero. 3. The null class. 4. The void and science. 5. The void in darsanas. 6. Nihilism. II. Zero in mathematics: 7. Zero and the grammar of numerals. 8. The variable zero. 9. Relations. 10. The commonsense zero. 11. The natural numbers without zero. 12. The derived zero. 13. The hierarchy of zeros. 14. Other mathematical zeros. III. Philosophy and religion: 15. Infinite void of consciousness. 16. Superconsciousness beyond void. 17. Buddhism and Sunyavada. 18. Fullness in emptiness. 19. Taoism and zen. 20. Sunya and void in Tantra. 21. Being and nonbeing. 22. Existentialism. 23. Consciousness and nothingness. 24. Nonbeing and anxiety. 25. Conflict and contradictions. 26. Cynicism and scepticism. 27. Space and time. IV. Science: 28. Epistemology. 29. Quantity and magnitude. 30. Mysticism and non-science. 31. Void in modern physics. 32. Science and mysticism. Chapter notes. Bibliography. Index.

"In this book the author analyzes the concepts of sunya (zero), void, nothing and other similar notions found in various fields - mysticism, religion, philosophy, science and mathematics. This exploration reveals a strange but fascinating world of nothingness : a weird world with its mind-boggling contradictions and irrationalism conveying the central message of nihil, where one finds prophets and philosophers trying to harmonize contraries, non sequiturs and irreconcilables." (jacket)