[Buddha-l] Book Recommendations

[Jo]

Hello Hans,

I recommend that you include Fariuddin Attar's _Conference of the Birds_,
1984, translated by
Afkham Darbandi and Dick Davis. The introduction by Davis is extremely
useful for anyone not familiar with Sufism.  It is a Sufi work by a  12th c.
Persian from NIshapur, an area that probably had Buddhist monasteries almost
up until his time. The story of the seeking birds uncannily leads to a quasi
or (IMHO) genuine Buddhist and/or Hindu insight on seeking, and self. The
edition I have is an old Penguin Books Classic (paperback)--haven't seen any
recent versions.
Once they get used to the antique discourse of the birds, I'd guess that
students would enjoy it, or at least parts of it. 

The women side of Buddhist and Hindu philosophies often obscures the human
realities of lived culture. For a marvelous and as yet unsurpassed in my
opinion book on Bengali women living the Hindu life, there is _Bengali
Women_, by Manisha Roy. Univ. of Chicago Press, 1992.
This edition has an afterword that discusses how her subjects' culture has
been affected by globalisation. Since these days usually classes have a
majority of women students, this is a study they can relate to personally.
It's still available on amazon.com.

Best wishes
Joanna Kirkpatrick
www.artsricksha.com 





 
-----Original Message-----
From: buddha-l-bounces at mailman.swcp.com
[mailto:buddha-l-bounces at mailman.swcp.com] On Behalf Of Gruenig, Hans W
Sent: Thursday, May 09, 2013 10:03 PM
To: Buddhist discussion forum
Subject: [Buddha-l] Book Recommendations

Hello Everyone,

I am working on designing an undergraduate intro level Asian Philosophy
course which will include Buddhist philosophy and other philosophies from
India and Asia.  I am wondering what *non-Buddhist* Indian/Asian philosophy
texts other professors have found to be of particular interest to
undergraduate students -- especially texts that students find to be
inspiring or personally relevant.  I have a lot of experience teaching
Buddhism and have a few non-Buddhist texts in mind, but would be interested
to hear what others have found to be engaging for intro level undergrad
students.  (Somehow, I imagine that Richard Hayes might point to some
Vivekananda texts, for example.)

Thank you,
-Hans Gruenig
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