Eastern & Contemplative Traditions
Advaita Vedanta, Buddhism, Kashmir Shaivism, Yoga, Taoism, Sufism — non-Western maps of consciousness and contemplative methodologies.
Eastern and contemplative traditions offer detailed phenomenological maps of consciousness developed over millennia of systematic introspection. These traditions do not merely theorise about consciousness — they provide methodologies for investigating it from the first-person perspective through meditation, contemplation, and ethical transformation.
Key subtopics: Advaita Vedanta, Yogacara, Madhyamaka, Kashmir Shaivism, Yoga Sutras, Theravada Abhidhamma, Taoism, Sufi Psychology, Christian Mysticism, Non-Duality, Turiya
Featured Entries
Mulamadhyamakakarika (Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way)
All phenomena, including consciousness itself, are empty (sunya) of intrinsic existence. Emptiness is not non-existence but dependent origination (pratityasamutpada). The self is not found in the …
Tantraloka (Light of the Tantras)
Encyclopedic work systematizing Trika Shaivism. Consciousness = Prakasha (light/stasis) + Vimarsha (reflective awareness/dynamism). The universe is the *spanda* (creative vibration) of absolute …
The Bhagavad Gita
Krishna's discourse to Arjuna on the battlefield. Three paths to liberation: karma yoga (detached action), bhakti yoga (devotion), jnana yoga (knowledge). The cosmic vision (Vishvarupa) reveals …
The Principal Upanishads
The Upanishads are the foundational texts of Vedanta philosophy. Key teachings: Brahman (the ultimate reality) is pure consciousness (prajnanam Brahma); Atman (the Self) is identical to Brahman (tat …
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Key Thinkers
Related Pathways
Consciousness for Beginners
No background required. Ten essential works that open the door to consciousness studies — from Nagel's bat to Tononi's integrated information.
View pathway →Science-Spirituality Bridge
How modern science (panpsychism, neurophenomenology, predictive processing) converges with ancient contemplative wisdom (Advaita, Buddhism, Kashmir Shaivism).
View pathway →Deepen Your Study
Full-length courses on eastern & contemplative traditions are available on holisticconsciousness.in — the companion LMS for seekersabodepl.com.