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PHL 348(W) (RS 241, ANS 372) YOGA AND NYAYA Stephen Phillips
Fall 2009 <phillips@mail.utexas.edu>
WAG 210 office hrs (WAG 301):
Tues 3:30-6:30 Tues 1:30-3:30 & by appt.
1 Sept Introduction. Reading of the sutras of the Yoga Sutra (YS) in whatever translation is
available, privileging the one in Yoga, Karma, and Rebirth (notes also required). We’ll
read the sutras one by one, skipping some, reading aloud in class around the room.
8 Sept Continuation of YS reading. Please read before class through YS chapter two, sutras only
(consulting Vyasa’s and Vacaspati’s commentaries or Phillips’s notes as necessary for
understanding).
15 Sept Continuation of YS reading. Please read before class through the end (sutras only, notes
or commentaries as necessary). Also read from J.N. Mohanty, Classical Indian
Philosophy (CIP), pp. 51-53 & 153-58.
22 Sept The YS commentary by Vyasa. Please bring to class: James H. Woods (tr.), The Yoga
Sutras of Patanjali. Reading (for this class and the next): Vyasa on sutras 1.1-12, 1.23-
32, 2.1-3.8, and 4.29-34. Recommended: Vachaspati’s subcommentary.
29 Sept Further discussion of the YS commentary by Vyasa. Please bring to class: James H.
Woods (tr.), The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Reading: see above. Details about the first
paper.
6 Oct First paper due (at the beginning of class). Nyaya in overview. E-mail distribution of
‘‘Nyaya’’ by S. Phillips. Begin readings from the Nyaya Sutra (NyS) with Vatsyayana’s
commentary (Bhashya): purchase and bring to class the photocopies available at
Speedway in the Dobie Mall. Also read: Mohanty, CIP, pp. 11-38. First NyS reading: NyS
1.1.1 (including the introduction or avata-ra by Vatsyayana, the author of the
commentary, bha-s.
ya) through 1.1.21.
13 Oct Continue NyS reading, sutras to be announced in the preceding class (6 Oct). Also read:
Mohanty, CIP, pp. 41-50.
20 Oct NyS reading. Vachaspati Mishra. Selected reading to be handed out or distributed by email.
27 Oct NyS reading. Vachaspati Mishra as YS commentator. Passages from Vachaspati,
beginning with the opening section, Vachaspati’s introductory comments, and then the
section on the i-s´vara, YS 1.23ff, James H. Woods (tr.), The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
Recommended: Vachaspati’s subcommentary on sutras 1.1-12, 2.1-3.8, and 4.29-34.
3 Nov NyS reading with particular attention to Vachaspati. Details about the second paper.
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10 Nov Second paper due (at the beginning of class). Key issues in the combination, or rivalry,
of Yoga and Nyaya. Review J.N. Mohanty, CIP, on both Nyaya and Yoga. Mimamsa,
Vedanta, and other schools. CIP, pp. 125-30. Glossary for the test on 17 Nov identified in
Mohanty, CIP; please bring your copy to class.
17 Nov Scheduling for class presentations. Details concerning final paper. Further discussion of
key issues in the combination, or rivalry, of Yoga and Nyaya. Further reading from
Vachaspati’s YS commentary, passages to be announced. Glossary test.
24 Nov Class presentations. Outline or abstract for the final paper due (may be submitted by
e-mail, no formatting, no MS Word, hard copy preferred).
1 Dec Class presentations.
4 Dec Final paper due (by 5 p.m., Phillips’ mailbox, WAG 316).
Required reading:
J.N. Mohanty, Classical Indian Philosophy (CIP), available at the University Co-op.
James H. Woods (tr.), The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, available at the University Co-op.
S. Phillips, Yoga, Karma, and Rebirth, available at the University Co-op.
E-mail distributions, class handouts, and on-line materials as designated.
Photocopies of the Nya-ya-su-tra with Va-tsya-yana’s commentary available at Speedway in the Dobie Mall.
Grading:
The course fulfills the University’s requirements for a ‘‘substantial writing component’’: there will be two
short papers, a class presentation, and a final paper (preceded by an outline or abstract), plus a test on
glossary items. The total writing required is sixteen pages (double-spaced, reasonable margins, 12-point
font) plus an outline or abstract of the final paper.
Glossary test = 10%
First paper (4 pages) = 20%
Second paper (4 pages) = 20%
Final paper (8 pages) = 40%
Outline/abstract (1 page) and class presentation = 5%
Class participation including comments and criticism of others’ class presentations = 5%.