This book guides readers through ten classic works of Asian philosophy. Several major schools of Eastern thought are discussed, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism/Taoism, and Chan/Zen. The author connects the ideas of these schools to those of Western philosophy, thereby making the material accessible to people who are unfamiliar with the cultures and intellectual traditions of Asia. A wide range of important topics are addressed: reality, time, self, knowledge, ethics, human nature, enlightenment, and death.

Comments:

"In A Guide to Asian Philosophy Classics, Puqun Li provides the student of Asian philosophy with a hugely intelligent companion volume that will inform a close reading of ten of Asia's foundational texts. Drawing upon the best contemporary scholarly literature and competing translations, Li unfolds widely divergent visions of the consummate human experience that can be achieved through a process of self-initiated personal cultivation. It is hard to conceive of how more of the world's wisdom could be responsibly engaged in one small book." - Roger T. Ames, University of Hawai’i

"This is a highly readable, issue-oriented guidebook to ten representative classics in Asian philosophy. The book gives beginners a clear, articulate, and thought-stimulating explanation of how to capture the basic ideas of these classics in a reflectively engaging way. It will inspire readers to pursue Asian philosophy in greater breadth and depth." - Bo Mou, San José State University

Puqun Li is Philosophy Instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and Philosophy Tutor at Athabasca University.

Table of Contents: [Back to Top]

Acknowledgements

Preface

Chapter 1: The Upanishads

Chapter 2: The Dhammapada

Chapter 3: The Mulamadhyamakakarika (The Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way)

Chapter 4: The Analects

Chapter 5: The Mengzi

Chapter 6: The Daodejing

Chapter 7: The Zhuangzi

Chapter 8: The Xunzi

Chapter 9: The Platform Sutra

Chapter 10: The Shobogenzo

Conclusion: How to Live a Human Life

Appendix 1: Selected (Non-Ranked) Journals on Asian Philosophy

Appendix 2: Selected (Non-Ranked) Graduate Programs in Chinese Philosophy

Appendix 3: Useful Websites

Appendix 4: A Very Simplified Note on Pinyin Pronunciation

Glossary of Key Terms

Index