Recommended Reading (Indology edition)

Hoo shit, two posts in one night! I must be on some sort of roll, so here's some short and sweet suggestions for things to look for next time you're perusing the local well-stocked used book store:

Heinrich Zimmer - Philosophies of India (Princeton/Bollingen '69)

It may be old, but who cares. Dr. Zimmer's magnum opus is still the best single-volume introduction to Indian religious thought available in English. Assembled by Joseph Campbell from the famed German Sanskritist's notes, Philosophies aged well in part because it sticks to the big picture instead of presenting itself as a strict history text that would have probably been made grossly inaccurate by the march of archaeology. Written in beautiful-yet-scholarly language, Zimmer guides us through the principles of Jainism, Yoga, Samkhya, Hinduism (in all its stages) Buddhism and Tantra (especially good), writing far more on each of them than he probably had to. And because the notes that it was based on were originally written at the dawn of the Second World War, it's mercifully free of New Age bullshit. Maybe a dash of Theosophy bullshit, but no New Age bullshit.

availablility: not common but not rare. I've sighted copies in most major NYC used bookstores south of 14th st, usually for under $10. It's also still in print, so hey, there's that.


Jean Varenne - Yoga and the Hindu Tradition (UChigago '76)

A book so strong, I bought the original Indian hardcover edition for my collection! But seriously, Varenne's text is up there with Zimmer's with regard to deep, readable "introductory" texts to Indian religions. YatHT focuses more on the Hindu mind, and especially its relationship to that horribly misunderstood little word "Yoga." Some of the best explanations of Samkhya philosophy and karma theory I've read anywhere. If you're at all serious about learning the background of this fascinating spiritual complex, I'd check out this book as well as Mircea Eliade's classic study Yoga: Immortality and Freedom. Because Eliade's writing can be needlessly opaque, and because he tries hard to fit Yoga into his own little theory of religion, I'd stick to Varenne for explanation and Eliade for scenery chewing.

availability: good luck. They turn up, but your best bet is a used bookstore with a well-stocked selection of scholarly books. Or you know, the internet.

David R. Kinsley - The Sword and the Flute (California '75)

For the longest time I wanted to find a book about Krsna that wasn't written by AC Bhaktivedanta. They're hard to come by, especially since the guy has written so much about him. This, though, is a really nice little academic study of Krsna and Kali. Recommended.

availability: see "availablility" for Varenne's book.

PS: An Indian nuclear power plant:




I guess Oppenheimer was on to something...