John M. Koller is Professor Emeritus at Rensselaer Polytechnic University, USA, where he taught for forty years. He received his Ph.D. in Indian Philosophy from the University of Hawaii, and did postgraduate work at Visva-Bharati and Banaras Hindu Universities in India. He is the author of The Indian Way (1982, 2004) and A Sourcebook in Asian Philosophy (1991).

• CONTENTSGlossary Pronunciation Guide Preface Acknowledgements Introduction PART 1 South Asian PhilosophiesSouth Asian ChronologySouth Asian Texts: A Timeline 1. Historical Perspectives Historical Overview Dominant Features Review Questions Further Reading 2. Vedas and Upanishads Indus Culture Vedic Thought Origins of Existence The Upanishads Quest for Brahman Quest for the Ultimate Self (Atman) Tat Tvam Asi Review Questions Further Reading 3. The Jain Vision Overview Mahavira Karmic Bondage Reality Kinds of Karma Way of Liberation Knowledge Faith Conduct Impact of Jain Thought Review Questions Further Reading 4. Buddhism: The Basic Teachings Overview The Buddha Quest for Enlightenment Enlightenment The Buddha’s Teachings The Noble Fourfold Truth The First Noble Truth The Second Noble Truth The Third Noble Truth The Fourth Noble Truth: The Eightfold Noble Path Review Questions Further Reading 5. Interdependent Arising and the Development of Mahayana Conditioned Existence Mindfulness How to Practice Mindfulness Perfection of Wisdom and Rise of Mahayana Reading the Texts The Diamond Sutra The Heart Sutra Review Questions Further Reading 6. Madhyamaka and Yogacara Overview of Madhyamaka: The Middle Way Tradition Nagarjuna’s Method Yogacara Nature and Function of Consciousness Knowledge of Reality Review Questions Further Reading 7. Society and the Individual Bhagavad Gita Human Aims Social Classes Life-Stages Review Questions Further Reading 8. Self and the World: Sankhya-Yoga Overview Causality Evolution of the World Yoga: The Way of Discipline Forces of Bondage Techniques of Yoga Review Questions Further Reading 9. Knowledge and Reality: Nyaya-Vaisheshika The Problem of Knowledge Perceptual Knowledge Inference Comparison Testimony Objects of Knowledge:The Vaisheshika Categories The Knower Review Questions Further Reading 10. Self and Reality: Mimamsa and Vedanta Mimamsa Vedanta Shankara’s Nondualism Appearance and Reality The Qualified Nondualism of Ramanuja The Dualistic Vedanta of Madhva Review Questions Further Reading 11. Theistic Developments Vishnu Krishna Kali Shiva Review Questions Further Reading 12. Islam Introduction Basic Teachings of Islam Development of Sufi Thought The Sufi Path Interaction Between Muslims and Hindus Religion and Politics Review Questions Further Reading 13. Tradition and Modernity Overview Gandhi Aurobindo Iqbal Radhakrishnan Review Questions Further Reading PART 2 Philosophies of East AsiaEast Asian ChronologyEast Asian Texts: A Timeline14. Historical Overview of East Asian PhilosophiesPre-Confucian China Confucianism Daoism Mohism School of Names Philosophy of Change Legalism Synthesis Buddhism Korean Philosophy Japanese Philosophy Neo-Confucianism Basic Characteristics Review Questions Further Reading 15. Yinyang Philosophy in the Book of Changes History of the Text Yinyang Way of Thinking Consulting the Yijing Influence on Daoism and Confucianism Contemporary Relevance Review Questions Further Reading 16. Confucianism: The Thought of Confucius ConfuciusHuman-heartedness (Ren) Propriety (Li) Filiality (Xiao) Rightness (Yi) Rectification of Names (Zheng Ming) Governing by Virtue Review Questions Further Reading 17. Development of Confucianism: Mengzi, Xunzi, and Dong Zhongshu Challenges to Confucian Thought Mengzi Xunzi Dong Zhongshu and a New Form of Confucianism Review Questions Further Reading 18. Daoism: The Daodejing Laozi Nonaction (WUWEI) and Self-So-Ness (Ziran) The Dao and Its Functions Dao Function (de) Review Questions Further Reading 19. Zhuangzi’s Daoism Zhuangzi Arguments Against Conventional Knowledge Dao and the Ordinary World Review Questions Further Reading 20. Chinese Buddhism Introduction from Central Asia and India Translations and Interpretations Review Questions Further Reading 21. Neo-Confucianism: The Grand Harmony The Buddhist Challenge Neo-Confucian Beginnings Zhou Dunyi Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi Zhu Xi The Idealism of Lu Xiangshan and Wang Yangming Wang Yangming Dai Zhen Review Questions Further Reading 22. Korean Philosophy Introduction Wonhyo Chinul Korean Neo-Confucianism Yi T’oegye Yi Yulgok Review Questions Further Reading 23. Japanese Philosophy Overview Tendai Pure Land Zen Dogen Indian and Chinese Foundations Daoist Influences Aims of Zen Zazen Koan Practice Zen Teachings Oxherding: Stages of Practice Review Questions Further Reading 24. Recent Thought Kang Youwei Zhang Dongsun Xiong Shili Fung Yu-lan Nishida Kitaro Post-Mao Thought Review Questions Further Reading Notes Index

"There is no better textbook which disentangles Asian philosophies from Asian religions than John Koller’s Asian Philosophies. The presentations of the differing philosophical systems are clear, comprehensive, and get to the heart of the matter." David Komito, Portland State University