Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought provides the reader with a thorough and valuable overview of the historical development of the major Eastern religious and philosophical traditions, primarily in India, China, and Japan. The book is written in an engaging style that contains a variety of anecdotes, analogies, definitions, and supporting quotes from primary and secondary sources. Awakening helps the reader to recognize the interrelationships that exist among the various traditions, to appreciate the relevance of these traditions to the concerns of modern times, and to understand the major issues of interpretation regarding these traditions. The primary focus of Awakening is Hinduism and Buddhism, and they serve as the broad umbrellas that include a number of specific schools, each of which is treated individually. Other schools-such as Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto-are included at the appropriate place.

Awakening is for all students and interested readers, whether new to the study of Eastern thought or not.

New to the Seventh Edition:
- A new Introduction
- A clearer definition and explanation of "Yoga" (throughout Part 1)
- A rewrite of the Aryan Migration section in Chapter 1, bringing it in line with current research
- An added sub-chapter to Chapter 6, dealing with Kundalini Yoga
- Further clarification of the meaning of Anatman in Chapter 10
- Emphasis on the contribution of Daoism to Chan Buddhism
- Clearer presentation of the Life of Buddha (Legend vs. Reality)
- Updated Study Questions
- Two new videos added to the companion website

Key Features:
- An historical overview that attempts to show the development of Eastern philosophies, both within the individual traditions as well as within a broad but loosely unified system of thought
- Abundantly uses stories in chapter overviews to engage student readers and to better explain Eastern thought
- No background in Asian studies, philosophy, or religious studies is presumed, allowing any student to greatly benefit from reading this book
- A functional, visually attractive web site www.patrickbresnan.com with author-produced videos on the content of the book, scores of pictures, and a comprehensive section on meditation

Patrick S. Bresnan is a retired professor of history and philosophy at De Anza College, Cupertino, California, where he created a four-quarter course, Introduction to Eastern Philosophy, dealing with the historical development of the major philosophical traditions of Asian countries. That, plus extensive travel and study in Asia, resulted in the production of the college-level text Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought.

Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought provides the reader with a thorough and valuable overview of the historical development of the major Eastern religious and philosophical traditions, primarily in India, China, and Japan. The book is written in an engaging style that contains a variety of anecdotes, analogies, definitions, and supporting quotes from primary and secondary sources. Awakening helps the reader to recognize the interrelationships that exist among the various traditions, to appreciate the relevance of these traditions to the concerns of modern times, and to understand the major issues of interpretation regarding these traditions. The primary focus of Awakening is Hinduism and Buddhism, and they serve as the broad umbrellas that include a number of specific schools, each of which is treated individually. Other schools-such as Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto-are included at the appropriate place.

Awakening is for all students and interested readers, whether new to the study of Eastern thought or not.

New to the Seventh Edition: - A new Introduction - A clearer definition and explanation of "Yoga" (throughout Part 1) - A rewrite of the Aryan Migration section in Chapter 1, bringing it in line with current research - An added sub-chapter to Chapter 6, dealing with Kundalini Yoga - Further clarification of the meaning of Anatman in Chapter 10 - Emphasis on the contribution of Daoism to Chan Buddhism - Clearer presentation of the Life of Buddha (Legend vs. Reality) - Updated Study Questions - Two new videos added to the companion website

Key Features: - An historical overview that attempts to show the development of Eastern philosophies, both within the individual traditions as well as within a broad but loosely unified system of thought - Abundantly uses stories in chapter overviews to engage student readers and to better explain Eastern thought - No background in Asian studies, philosophy, or religious studies is presumed, allowing any student to greatly benefit from reading this book - A functional, visually attractive web site www.patrickbresnan.com with author-produced videos on the content of the book, scores of pictures, and a comprehensive section on meditation

Introduction to seventh edition

Part I: Hinduism and Related Traditions of South Asia

1. India Before the Vedas The Lay of the Land South Asia Before the Vedic Age The Aryan Migrations Varna: The Caste System The Brahmin Caste Questions for Discussion

2.Veda and the Vedas Yajna: The Vedic Sacrifice Soma The Vedic Pantheon In the Beginning Principal Gods of the Vedic Pantheon An Overview of Vedic Cosmology Questions for Discussion

3. Introduction to the Upanishads Key Elements of the Upanishads An Overview of Vedanta Cosmology Questions for Discussion

4. The Bhagavad Gita The Bhagavad Gita and the Mahabharata The Opening Scene The Bhagavad Gita as Metaphor The Awakened Person Karma Yoga Raja Yoga Bhakti Yoga Questions for Discussion

5. Ashtanga Yoga The General Nature of Yoga The "Eight Limbs" of Ashtanga Yoga Questions for Discussion

6. Darshana The Orthodox Darshanas The Heterodox Darshanas Questions for Discussion

7. The Devotional Movement The Trimurti Ramanuja The Hindu Temple Questions for Discussion

8. A Millennium of Strife The Muslim Era The Modern Era Questions for Discussion

Part II: Shakyamuni Buddha and the Early Development of Buddhism

9. The Life Story of Shakyamuni Buddha The Palace Youth The Sadhu Years The Awakening The Teaching Years Questions for Discussion

10. Basic Teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha The Doctrine of Anatman The Four Noble Truths The Noble Eightfold Path Questions for Discussion

11. Theravada Buddhism The Early Centuries Ashoka Theravada Buddhism Questions for Discussion

12. Mahayana Buddhism Diversity and Religious Elements in Mahayana The Nature of Buddha Madhyamaka Yogacara The Bodhisattva Artistic Expression in Early Mahayana Questions for Discussion

Part III: Non-Buddhist Traditions of East Asia

13. Confucius and Confucianism Confucius Mencius Other Voices from the Period of a Hundred Philosophers Later Developments in the Evolution of Confucianism Questions for Discussion

14. Daoism Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching) Zhuang Zi (Chuang Tzu) Religious Daoism Questions for Discussion

15. Shinto The Shinto Creation Story The Shinto Shrine and Festival Historical Development of Shinto Questions for Discussion

Part IV: Buddhism in China and Japan

16. Early Buddhism in China Buddhism in the Tarim Basin Tiantai Buddhism Huayan Buddhism (Hua-Yen) Pure Land Buddhism Persecution and Recovery Questions for Discussion<…