EASTERN PHILOSOPHY ARCHIVES

Our Eastern Philosophy archives focus almost exclusively  on the traditions of Buddhism and Hinduism.  The difficulty level of each text provided below is identified by the following codes:  B [Beginner]: appropriate for those with no background in philosophy; I [Intermediate]:  requires a minimal background in philosophy or the history of ideas; A [Advanced]: most suitable for those with some background in philosophy.

Bhagavad Gita

    Bhagavad Gita
Topically edited version     New Translation    [B]

SRI AUROBINDO

    Sri Aurobindo
    Sri Aurobindo
    Sri Aurobindo
    Sri Aurobindo
    Sri Aurobindo
Yoga and Human Evolution     [B]
Fate and Free Will     [B]
The Strength of Stillness     [B]
The Nature of the Supermind     [B]
On Ideals and Progress     [B]

BUDDHISM, GENERAL | EARLY SUTRAS

    The Buddha
    The Buddha
    The Buddha
    The Buddha
    The Buddha
    The Buddha
    The Buddha
    The Buddha
    The Buddha
    The Buddha
    Buddhism
    Bikkhu Bodi
    Donald Cornelius
    Charles Eliot
    Charles Eliot
    Sanath Nanayakkara
    Michael S. Russo
The Twin Verses [Dhammapada 1-20]      [B]
On Craving [Dhammapada 334-359]     [B]
The Fire Sermon [Trans. A.J. Grunthaler]   New Translation   [B]
Kalama Sutra  [Trans., Soma Thera]    [B]
Ambalatthikarahulovada Sutra [Trans. Thanissaro Bhikkhu]     [I]
Vitakkasanthana Sutra  [Trans. Thanissaro Bhikkhu]     [I]
Kakacupama Sutra [Trans. Thanissaro Bhikkhu]    [I]
Satipatthana Sutra    [Trans. Thanissaro Bhikkhu]     [I]
Sandaka Sutra  [Trans.  Sister Upalavanna]     [I]
Questions That Do Not Tend to Edify  [Lesser Mâlunkyâputta S.]      [B]
There is No Self  [Malindapanha]     [I]
The Living Message of the Dhammapada     [B]
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness - Part 1    [B]
Life of the Buddha  [Hinduism and Buddhism]    [B]
The Teachings of the Buddha  [Hinduism and Buddhism]     [B]
The Kalama Sutta:  How Free is Freedom of Thought     [I]
Beyond Gods and Reason: Buddhist Experiential Ethics     [B]

BUDDHISM, MAHAYANA

BUDDHISM, CH'AN | ZEN

    Seng-tsan  (3rd Patriarch)
    Dai-o Kokushi
    Dai-o Kokushi
    Hakuin
    Hui-Neng (6th Patriarch)
    Hui-Neng (6th Patriarch)
    Kaku-an Shien
    Dwight Goddard
    Scott Mandelker
Verses on the Faith-Mind  [Manual of Zen Buddhism]    [I]
Admonition  [Manual of Zen Buddhism]  [B]
On Zen  [Manual of Zen Buddhism]    [I]
Song of Meditation  [Manual of Zen Buddhism]    [I]
Autobiography of Hui-Neng  [Platform Sutra 1]    [I]
Discourse on Prajna  [Platform Sutra 3]    [I]
Ten Ox-herding Images  [Manual of Zen Buddhism]    [I]
History of Ch'an Buddhism    [B]
Lin-chi and the True Man Without Rank    [I]

GANDHI

    Mohandas K. Gandhi
    Mohandas K. Gandhi
    Mohandas K. Gandhi
    Michael S. Russo
The Meaning and Practice of Ahimsa     [B]
On Non-Possession     [B]
The Moral Basis of Vegetarianism      [B]
A Brief Life of Mahatma Gandhi    [B]

PATANJALI

RAMAKRISHNA

UPANISHADS

    Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
    Chandogya Upanishad
    Chandogya Upanishad
    Chandogya Upanishad
    Isha (Isa) Upanishad
    Isha (Isa) Upanishad
    Katha Upanishad
    Kena Upanishad
    Kena Upanishad
    Mundaka Upanishad
    Charles Johnson
The Creation of the World    [I]
In the Temple of the City of Brahman       New Translation      [B]
"You Are That"       New Translation      [B]
The Story of Svetaketu     [I]
The Inner Divinity   [I]
Text with Commentary by Swami Paramananda    [I]
The Deathless Self     [I]
Text with Commentary by Swami Paramananda    [I]
Brahman as Totality    New Translation      [B]
The Unsteady Vessels of Rites     New Translation      [B]
The Meaning of OM in the Upanishads    [B]

THE VEDAS & BRAHMANISM

    Rig Veda
    Rig Veda 10.129
    Rig Veda 10.90
    Maurice Bloomefield
    Arthur Anthony Macdonell
Selections from the Rig Veda    [I]
Nasadiya: Creation Hymn of the Rig Veda       New Translation     [B] 
The Primeval Sacrifice (Purusha Sakta)    [B]
The Creation Hymn of the Vedas    [B]
Introduction to the Rig Veda    [B]

VIVEKANANDA

    Swami Vivekananda
    Swami Vivekananda
    Swami Vivekananda
    Swami Vivekananda
    Swami Vivekananda
    Swami Vivekananda
    Swami Vivekananda
    Swami Vivekananda
    Swami Vivekananda
    Swami Vivekananda
    Swami Vivekananda
The Four Yogas     [B]
The Path of Devotion     [B]
Why We Disagree     [B]
Karma Yoga (complete)     [B]
Karma Yoga (selection)     [B]
What is Religion?     [B]
Unity: The Goal of Religion      [B]
The Idea of a Universal Religion       [B]
Raja Yoga (selections)    [B]
Discourse on Jnana Yoga    [B]
Six Lessons on Raja Yoga    [B]

VEDANTA [AND SHANKARA]

    Ashtavakra Gita 1-2
    Adi Shankara
    Adi Shankara
    Adi Shankara
    Charles Johnson
The Practice of Self-Affirmation      New Translation     [B]
The Awakening to the Self (Atma Bodha)    [I]
The Essence of the Teaching (Vakya Sudha)    [I]
Six Stanzas on Nirvana      New Translation     [B]
Shankara's Thought    [B]

MISCELLANEOUS

    Charles Eliot
    Michael S. Russo
Meditation in Hinduism and Buddhism  [Hinduism and Buddhism]    [B]
Roads to the Enchanted Kingdom     [B]
Awakening Wisdom: The Buddha

Awakening Wisdom is designed to provide readers with a clear and concise introduction to the essential teachings of the Buddha as they were recorded in the texts of the Pali Canon and other early Buddhist works. Although written primarily for newcomers to the field of Buddhism, this anthology will also be of interest to practicing Buddhists who may never have had the opportunity to read original Buddhist sources.

ISBN: 978-1539858737
Science of the Breath

Swami Ramacharaka (aka William Walker Atkinson) was a pioneer of the New Thought Movement in the early 20th century.  In Science of the Breath,  Atkinson explores yogic deep breathing practices in a way that has rarely been improved upon since the work was first published over 100 years ago.  This edition also includes a selection on pranayama, the science of breath control, from Swami Vivekananda's Raja Yoga,

ISBN: 978-1507634073 
Outlines of Mahayana Buddhism

​In Outlines of Buddhism, D.T. Suzuki takes on the formidable task of providing comprehensive introduction to the thought of the Mahayana school of Buddhism.  Drawing analogies with Western philosophy and literature, the text offers readers a lucid and engaging introduction to the major themes in Mahayana thought.  Although Mahayana doctrines can often be difficult to understand, Suzuki writes in a way that is totally accessible to newcomers to Buddhist thought.

ISBN:  978-1530907816
Hindu Mysticism

Hindu Mysticism provides an engaging introduction to the various mystical traditions that evolved over the centuries in India, including the sacrificial (Vedic), Upanishadic, Yogic, Buddhist, Classical Bhakti (Devotional) and Popular Bhakti.  

ISBN: 978-1542444439
The Four Yogas

This volume includes the complete texts of Swami Vivekananda’s Karma Yoga, Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, and Bhakti Yoga. Taken together, these works present a synthesis of the most prominent yogic traditions of India, revealing both the richness and complexity of Hindu spirituality as well as its continued relevance in the 21st century.

ISBN: 9781543273755
Hinduism: Teachings, Sources, and Practices

Hinduism: Teachings, Sources, and Practices has been designed to provide a general overview of Hindu thought specifically for Western audiences. Focusing on the four traditional yogic paths-Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, and Raja Yoga-this text illuminates the diversity of Hindu thought as it developed over the past 4000 years, while at the same time offering time-tested spiritual practices that can enrich the lives of those of us living in the 21st century.

ISBN: 9781547215720
Buddhism: Teachings, Sources, and Practices

An exploration of the development of Buddhism in Asia, Buddhism: Teaching, Sources, and Practices is an anthology that has been written for those with little or no background in Buddhist history or philosophy. Beginning with the teachings of the historic Buddha himself (Siddhatha Gotoma), the text explores the evolution of Buddhist thought during the centuries following the Buddha’s death as it manifested itself in the traditions of Theravada Buddhism, Indian Mahayana Buddhism, Ch’an/Zen Buddhism, and Tibetan Buddhism. 

​ ISBN: 978-1981282968

WORTH READING - BOOKS FROM OUR SOPHIA PROJECT PARTNERS

Just Grab the Dust Rag: Confessions of a Deluded Zen Student

​Filled with an abundance of humanity and humor, Brenda Shoshanna's account of her years of Zen practice in New York and Japan provides an engaging and often insightful look at the state of contemporary Zen Buddhism in the United States. Those seeking to understand why any sane person would want to undertake the often arduous meditative practices associated with Zen will find their answer in this book, which uses Brenda's own journey to show the relevance of Zen teaching in the 21st century.     

ISBN: ​978-1499309034