Best indian philosophy books according to redditors

Here is your book: Aghora by Robert Svaboda. Why? After looking at some of your comments, I gather that you are interested in the practice of meditation as taught by one of the Buddhist schools, and you are interested in psychedelic experiences, e.g., tripping on 'shrooms until you end up in the hospital. While I am completing a masters in the area of roughly "medieval aesthetics in India" - which will open up new areas of experience for you - if you are willing to work very hard for a while. wikipedia "abhinavagupta" and see what you think as his path included the ritual use of intoxicants. The sufi traditions may have something for you too here are some books.
Probably as well to deconstruct terms like "Eastern philosophy/ers" - Indian Theravada thinkers like Dharmakirti and Nargajuna will be worlds apart from the Mahaayaana views of Chinese let alone Japanese lineages. In fact, Dharmakirti and Nargajuna will have more in common with Hindu Nyaaya philosophy and the theistic idealism of Abhinavagupta than with Chinese Mahaayaana. On that note the book "Perception" by BK Matilal is excellent.

Otherwise smoke a bone, read Alan Watts, TD Suzuki, Robert Persig, Deepak and think you're learning Eastern philosophy - chicks dig guys who know Eastern philosophy.

Ramayana by C. Rajagopalachari if you want to start out simple. It was written for the younger generation and the English is quite unique.


Sita: An Illustrated Retelling of the Ramayana if you want a modern retelling of The Ramayana.


The Immortals of Meluha if you want a twisted take on some myths(this is not mythology of old but a reimagination using some concepts and characters. Another unique English warning would probably do good here).

Get the Mahabharata by C. Rajagopalachari.

Best option for people wanting to read Mahabharata in simple English.

Same for Ramayana.

There is a decent lecture series online.

As for books i think M. Hiriyanna and [Surendranath Dasgupta] (http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12956) are alright.

I have read this one by Chandradhar Sharma "A Critical Survey of Indian Philosophy". It's a pretty academic but I found it useful.
https://www.amazon.com/Critical-Survey-Indian-Philosophy/dp/8120803655

https://www.valmiki.iitk.ac.in/sloka?field_kanda_tid=1&language=dv&field_sarga_value=1

for online reading.

https://www.amazon.in/Ramayana-C-R-C-Rajagopalachari/dp/8172764820/ref=sr_1_17?keywords=valmiki+ramayana&qid=1564479253&s=gateway&sr=8-17#customerReviews

There's no one accepted position on cosmology in ISKCON yet. There's a book, however, that might unify all our divergent views and reconcile them with cosmology of Bhagavatam (one of our main doctrinal texts).

The universe that we see is only one part of the Vedic cosmos, the Sisumara system, and we see it because Sisumara acts as an interface in each and every interaction we have in this world, delivering us our karma and making things perceptible to us. This interface becomes perceptible, too, and, based on these perceptions, we construct our current "scientific" model of the solar system, stars, planets, Moon travel etc.

In Vedic sense, however, since all these perceptions are physical, we never ever leave our current level of existence, which is "Earth", and never ever reach the Moon level of existence, which is "mind", where there are neither senses nor sense objects. In that understanding we've never traveled to the Moon even if our physical experience shows that we had (or faked it, as some would argue).

Distances to the Sun or the Moon given in Bhagavatam are not physical but show the amount of transformations one needs to perform to change from, say "mind" level to "body" level of existence, like the amount of effort you need to transform your desires into reality, so to speak.

This explanation is based on the theory of Sankhya - one of the six traditional schools in Hinduism. Its practical application used to be yoga but since no one can do it properly anymore and resorts to stretching exercises instead, Sankhya has become largely forgotten. Turns out it can still be useful in describing Vedic cosmos.

> Considering Lynch's views on and practice of transcendental meditation and especially the importance of transcending, has someone tried to delve deeper into that aspect and apply this to his works, Twin Peaks in particular?


I did:

David Lynch's INLAND EMPIRE a metaphor for meditation and enlightenment?

Still watching the first season of Twin Peaks, but I've already seen a few scenes that might have a TM interpretation (whether Lynch intended them to be interpreted that way or not is another question).

However, with INLAND EMPIRE, I think came pretty close to what Lynch had in mind as THIS is something he HAS said in public about it:

"We are like the spider. We weave our life and then move along in it. We are like the dreamer who dreams and then lives in the dream. This is true for the entire universe."

(this isn't actually a direct quote from the Upanishads, but from a book about the Upanishads by a friend of his who put the text of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad into short story form: Eternal Stories from the Upanishads)

The rapturous states are signs of high concentrative abilities, enjoy. However, this is just a factor of awakening.

Being present is. That is enlightenment. Not trying for anything, but being at total peace, acceptance of all the flow of phenomena, pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral.

If you are interested in some detailed talks on the 7 factors of awakening according to the Buddha, consider listening to Joseph Goldstein's talks on The Satipatthana Sutta, parts 27-35, and # 27 is here. Joseph is ridiculously modest. Do not let that fool you into thinking he does not know. He teaches in that tone.

If you want more stories of high yogis, try Miracle of Love. It's about Neem Karoli Baba, Ram Dass and Krishna Das's teacher.

Also, Be Love Now has a number of stories about modern saints/yogis.

Also, Osho has quite a lot to offer. His book, Tantra might be of interest to you. I went through an extensive kundalini awakening and Osho's talks and books helped me a lot through those times.

I'll say, you are correct in seeing that what you've experienced so far is not "it," not enough. That is wisdom. Carry on.

Hiriyanna's outline of Indian philosophy is quite good.

https://www.amazon.in/Outlines-Indian-Philosophy-M-Hiriyanna/dp/8120810996

I also began with Radhakrishnan's 2 volume set on Indian philosophy:

https://www.amazon.in/Indian-Philosophy-Second-Introduction-J-N-Mohanty/dp/0195698428

One of the best summaries of Indian Philosophy...

http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Indian-Philosophy-Chatterjee/dp/8129111950

141 is my number. I recently found out about Ramayana and would love to read it. Here are some used ones under $5.