This course focuses on the philosophies of India. It begins with the root texts of the world's oldest and longest continuously developed tradition of philosophical practice, questioning, and teaching -- the Vedas and Upanishads. It continues with an examination of the classic texts of the three most influential Vedic schools -- Samkhya, Yoga, and Vedanta -- as well as of key texts of Indian Buddhist schools and of Indo-Tibetan Tantra. It also explores historical and recent interaction with these three traditions outside of their homeland.

Assigned texts include:

1) Eknath Easwaran, trans., The Upanishads (Nilgiri Press, 2007). ISBN-13:97811586380212.

2) B.S. Miller, trans., The Bhagavad Gita (New York: Random House, Inc., 2000). ISBN-13:9780375705557.

3) Vireswarananda, trans., Brahma-Sutras (Advaita Ashrama, 1982). ISBN-13:9788185301952.

4) Lucien Stryk, ed., World of the Buddha (New York: Grove Press, 1994). ISBN-13:9780802130952.

5) Lama Yeshe, Introduction to Tantra (Malden: Wisdom Press, 2005). ISBN-13:9780861711628.

6) Xerox packet of selected Veda, Samkhya-Yoga, and Tantra translations by Prof. Ironbiter.