Eastern Philosophy

This compact volume is a remarkable introduction to Eastern thought on its own terms--without Western interference, primarily focusing on philosophical thinkers from India, China, and Japan. From Zhuangzhi to Confucius and many others, the reader will develop a newfound appreciation for this nuanced subject matter. The writing is fresh, lucid, and accessible. The chapters are titled as follows: 1.) Ultimate Questions and Answers 2.) The Self 3.) The Outward Good 4.) The Inward Good 5.) Language 6.) Knowledge 7.) Logic Glossary of Names and Schools Further Reading. Each chapter comprises a comparative discussion; Ram-Prasad presents the different schools of thought with great clarity. Many writers contend that Eastern thought, though amply translated nowadays, has to be "interpreted" for the Western reader. But this is a misunderstanding; expression of key concepts is possible in any language, provided one reads a writer of Ram-Prasad's scholarship, for he conveys the crucial distinctions and similarities among the various schools of thought without hinting at any of the traditional obstacles caused by translation. They simply do not get in his way. Most writers use "interpretation" to "Westernize" Eastern thought--an excuse to make it commercial: for instance, books that recommend Zen to improve your golf swing. This is utterly ridiculous, and there are too many of these guides in print that simply generalize and present Western readers with New Age-type inaccuracies and feel-good representations. Without focusing on this at all, Ram-Prasad did away with much of the nonsense I have encountered in this area of study. I enjoy reading philosophy in general and have several works on Zen, Taoism, and comparative mythologies. It was truly refreshing for me to read a book that challenged certain misconceptions and encouraged me to think and read further. Few writers are also gifted teachers with a real point to make. I will refer to this book time and again.