Indian Wisdom Traditions: A Historical Perspective

This illustrated talk introduces the history of Indian wisdom traditions from its beginning in the Indus Valley (c. 2700 BCE) to its continued development into modernity. It touches on the Vedas, the Upanishads, Buddhism, Sankhya and Yoga, Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavatism , Shaivism and Shaktism, discussed in the context of Indian social history. Coming to the modern period, it discusses the crisis of Indian spiritual thought and some of the relevant philosophical and praxical solutions that have arisen.