Essays on Indian Philosophy

By Dr Neel Burton — Psychiatrist, philosopher, and wine writer; Fellow of Green Templeton College, University of Oxford; author of over twenty books.

Awake, arise! Strive for the Highest, and be in the Light. Sages say the path is narrow and difficult to tread, narrow as the edge of a razor. —Katha Upanishad

Indian philosophy begins with some of the biggest questions. Who am I? Why do we suffer? And is there a way out?

Its answers are startlingly diverse. The Upanishads tell us to discover our true Self; the Buddha tells us that no such self exists.

Yet for all their differences, the Indian traditions form a recognisable family, sharing many of the same concepts and concerns—and an emphasis not merely on understanding the world, but on liberating the person who seeks to understand it.

This page brings together my essays on Indian philosophy.

Self, Karma, and Rebirth

What Makes You Who You Are? — The Western, Buddhist, and Upanishadic Answers to the Problem of the Self

India’s Deepest Secret: The Secret of the Self — The Upanishads and the Search for the True Self

Was Yoga Ever About Stretching? — If Not Physical Fitness, What Was Yoga Originally For?

The Psychology and Philosophy of Karma — Why the Ancient Indian Doctrine Is Far More Profound Than ‘What Goes Around Comes Around’

The Dark Side of Reincarnation — Why Rebirth Is Worse Than Death

An Outline of the Problem of Free Will — With an Account of How Freedom Might Sometimes Be Possible for Some

Buddhism

The Life of the Buddha: The Prince Who Escaped the Palace — The Extraordinary Life of the Buddha

The Buddha’s Solution to Desire and Suffering — Buddhism’s Most Important Teachings: The Middle Way, Four Noble Truths, and Eightfold Path

India’s Boldest Idea: The Illusion of the Self — The Buddha and Buddhism on the Illusion of the Self

India and the World

How the Western Mind Nearly Took an Eastern Turn — The Surprising Affinities Between Greek and Indian Philosophy

Was Plato a Hindu? — The Uncanny Parallels Between Plato and the Upanishads

The Myth of Er: Plato’s Most Beautiful Myth — Given the Choice, Who Would You Be in Your Next Life?

What Do Buddhism and Stoicism Have in Common? — Two Ancient Paths to the Same Human Truths

Schopenhauer: The Funniest Philosopher? — You Will Laugh and Cry

Nietzsche, the Stoics, and Eternal Return — What If You Had to Live Your Life Again?

The Greek Dog and the Indian Dog | The Odyssey and the Mahabharata — What Homer Can Teach Us About Ghosting

Why So Many Gods Are Trans — Gender Fluidity in Gods and Heroes

Continue Exploring

Explore more subjects in the Index Scriptorum.

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