Reading Primary Sources in Indian Philosophy : A Guide

A practical and succinct reading guide to classic texts in Indian philosophy.

Organized around a selection of sources ranging across roughly 2,000 years, this is an introduction to thinkers and themes in Indian philosophy. The guide helps readers engage with the diverse Indian subcontinent: it covers multiple philosophical traditions, from Buddhism to Vedanta to Nyaya, and multiple topics, from metaphysics to ethics to epistemology. The volume also includes the first-ever English translation of Abhinavagupta’s Seed of the Banyan Tree of Tantra, a key text in the non-dual Saiva tradition.

The focus throughout is on how to read the texts. Tackling complex ideas and philosophical concepts, each chapter follows the same format. The historical context appears before the central themes and arguments are discussed. Textual excerpts accompany both close readings and explanation of philosophical reading practices, teaching readers to unpack arguments with textual sensitivity. A glossary and further reading suggestions give additional support.

For anyone coming to Asian philosophy for the first time, here are the skills and tools you need to read and understand major texts in Indian philosophy.