This is a survey of the major ancient philosophies from India and China.  From India, the course covers five of the orthodox Upanishadic schools and two Buddhist schools.  From China, the course covers three indigenous traditions and the subsequent assimilation of Buddhism.  The focus throughout is examining each philosophy on its own terms, as a whole, while avoiding simplistic explanations or translations into more familiar (European) ways of understanding.  The guiding theme of the course is that differences between European and Asian philosophies, as well as differences among Asian philosophies, result from treating certain experiences and concerns as more or less salient, and that small-scale difference in emphasis produces large-scale difference in results.  

Required Prerequisite: Introduction to Philosophy or permission of instructor. 

Course Text: Forrest E. Baird and Raeburne S. Heimbeck, Asian Philosophy (Philosophic Classics Volume VI), Pearson/Prentice Hall

Syllabus [PDF]     Extra Reading [PDF]     Examinations [PDF]

Supplemental Readings

Sue Hamilton, Chapter 1, Indian Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction [PDF]

John Koller, Chapter 13, The Indian Way: An Introduction to the Philosophies and Religions of India [PDF]

Mark Siderits, Chapter 1, Buddhism as Philosophy [PDF]

Jay Garfield, Buddhist Moral Theory [PDF]

Katha Upanishad [translated by Sri Aurobindo / alternative translation here]

Brahma Sutra (for Vedanta)

Nagarjuna, Verses from the Centre [translated by Stephen Batchelor]

Confucius, The Analects [translation by James Legge / alternate translation here]

Mozi, The Mozi [translation by W.P. Mei / alternate translation here]

Zhuangzi, The Zhuangzi [translation by James Legge / alternate translation here]

Hui-Neng, Platform Sutra [translated by John R. McRae] [PDF]

Gongsun Longzi, The White Horse Dialogue

Julia Ching, Paradigms of the Self in Buddhism and Christianity [PDF via JSTOR]

Robin Collins, Eastern Religions [a critique of Vedanta, Therevada, and Madhyamika]

Bryan van Norden, America's Encounter with Confucian Thought: Three Trends [PDF]

Karyn Lai, Confucian Moral Thinking [PDF]

Dan Lusthaus, Chinese Buddhist Philosophy [PDF]

Whalen Lai, Buddhism in China: A Historical Survey [PDF]

David Landis Barnhill, Good Work: An Engaged Buddhist Response to the Dilemmas of Consumerism [PDF via JSTOR]

Robert Traer, Faith in the Buddhist Tradition [PDF via JSTOR]

Handouts

Powerpoints for Studying Asian Philosophy [PDF]     handout | outline

PowerPoints for Indian Philosophy [PDF]                  handout | outline

PowerPoints for Chinese Philosophy [PDF]               handout | outline
Soloist Changing OM [mp3]
Choir Chanting OM [mp3]

Links

religion-online.org: Full Text Database

C.S. Shah, Introduction to Katha Upanishad

Indica et Buddhica: Materials for Indology and Buddhology

Bibliography: Indian Logic and Ontology

Readings on the Schools of Indian Philosophy [PDF]

The Center for Buddhist Studies Weblog

Buddhism in a Nutshell

Henry Clarke Warren, Buddhism in Translations

Texts of Buddhist Scriptures

Buddhism Online (news)

Access to Insight: Readings in Theravada Buddhism

Buddhism Full Text Journals

Chung Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies

Bibliography: Buddhist Logic and Ontology

Mandarin Pronunciation for Beginners

MDGB Chinese-English Dictionary

Bryan W. van Norden's Essential Readings on Chinese Philosophy

China-Related Links

Su Tzu's Chinese Philosophy Page

Chinese Philosophy Page

Bibliography: Chinese Logic and Ontology

The Zen Site

James M. Hanson, Was Jesus a Buddhist?

Buddhist-Christian Studies [journal]
Free Yoga Video Download
Green Mountain Zen Center (Huntsville, AL)