Paul Deussen

Paul Jakob Deussen (German: [ˈpaʊl ˈjaːkop ˈdɔʏsən]; 7 January 1845 – 6 July 1919) was a German Indologist and professor of Philosophy at University of Kiel.

Quotes

• Whatever may be the discoveries of the scientific mind, none can dispute the eternal truths propounded by the Upanishads. Though they may appear as riddles, the key to solving them lies in our heart and if one were to approach them with an open mind one could secure the treasure as did the Rishis of ancient times.
  • Indian Antiquary (1902) - By Paul Deussen and reprinted in Outline of Indian Philosophy - 1907.

• The Upanishads have tackled every fundamental problem of life. They have given us an intimate account of reality." ...."On the tree of wisdom there is no fairer flower than the Upanishads, and no finer fruit than the Vedanta philosophy,'... 'The system of Vedanta, as founded on the Upanishads and Vedanta Sutras and accompanied by Shankara's commentary on them---equal in rank to Plato and Kant---is one of the most valuable products of the genius of mankind in his researches of the eternal truth.'
  • Address before the Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society on February 25, 1893).

Quotes about Paul Deussen

• Deussen is certainly the freest among scholars in the expression of his opinion about the Vedanta. He never stops to think about the "What they would say" of the vast majority of scholars. We indeed require bold men in this world to tell us bold words about truth; and nowhere, is this more true now than in Europe where, through the fear of social opinion and such other causes, there has been enough in all conscience of the whitewashing and apologising attitude among scholars towards creeds and customs which, in all probability, not many among them really believe in. The greater is the glory, therefore, to Max Müller and to Deussen for their bold and open advocacy of truth!
  • Swami Vivekananda, On Dr. Paul Deussen . (Brahmavâdin, 1896.) .

• If Max Müller is thus the old pioneer of the new movement, Deussen is certainly one of its younger advance-guard.
  • Swami Vivekananda, On Dr. Paul Deussen . (Brahmavâdin, 1896.) .

• But Paul Deussen — or as he prefers to be called in Sanskrit, Deva-Sena — and the veteran Max Müller have impressed me as being the truest friends of India and Indian thought. It will always be among the most pleasing episodes in my life — my first visit to this ardent Vedantist at Kiel, his gentle wife who travelled with him in India, and his little daughter, the darling of his heart — and our travelling together through Germany and Holland to London, and the pleasant meetings we had in and about London.
  • Swami Vivekananda, On Dr. Paul Deussen . (Brahmavâdin, 1896.) .