Indian Philosophy

This workshop will focus on the foundational philosophical texts of yoga and examine the underpinnings and essential principles of the classical schools of Hindu philosophy. We will navigate the cluster of overlapping theological worlds and belief systems that comprise Hinduism, beginning with their foundations in the Upanishads, the earliest mystico-philosophical tradition of India, and evolving into the Yoga Sutras, Vedanta Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, and other post-Vedic texts. We will consider the emergence of the bhakti and tantric traditions and the philosophies associated with them. Attention will also be given to non-Hindu religious expressions, such as Buddhism and Jainism, with a view to gaining some sense of the overall spiritual and philosophical landscape of ancient India.