Yoga and Zen (A Monograph)

India is a home of rich spiritual traditions and philosophies. Yoga and Buddha are the two greatest systems of philosophies given to humanity. The former expounded by Patanjali remained and lasted as pure tradition, while the latter when it was split into several schools. Zen was born from one such school called Madhyamika as it traveled to the far east. Though originated in Indian, the two are diametrically opposed in respect of theology, cosmology, methodology and technique. The concise monograph takes an insightful look into similarities and differences between these two systems which a deep impact on human life. This small but invaluable study is considered as a rich contribution to the field of comparative study of philosophical systems and religions.

Born in 1957, Dr. K.V. Raghupathi received his post-graduate in English Literature in 1997, M.Phil, in 1982 and Ph. D. in 1997 from SriVenkateswara University, Tirupati and PGDTE (Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching of English) from CIEFL, in Hyderabad. He began writing seriously in 1985.Since then he has innumerable poems, articles and book reviews in his credit in various literary and cultural journals and magazines of high reputed, participated in seminars and conferences, presented research papers and delivered lectures and public talks on literature, language, yoga, religion and spiritual life. He has so far nine books in his credit: Desert Blooms (Kolkata, 1987), Echose Silent (Kolkata, 1988), The Image of a Growing Dying City (Kolkata, 1989), Small Reflections (Kolkata, 2000), Voice of the Valley (New Delhi, 2003), Wisdom of the Peepal Tree (New Delhi, 2033), Samarpana (New Delhi, 2006), Emerson: A Study in Orientalism (New Delhi, 2007) and Yoga for Peace (New Delhi, 2007). He is a recipient of several awards, notably, H.D. Thoureau Fellowship, 2000 (Dhavanyaloka, Mysore), Michael Madhusudan Academy award, 2001 (Kolkata) and the best Poet of 2003 by the Poetry Society of India, New Delhi and Poetry Chain, Mumbai. He began his tradition. He is a great lover of promoter of classical Karnatic music.

The basis of this monograph is a paper I presented at a national seminar on Yoga sponsored by Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR), New Delhi and held in collaboration with the Department of Philosophy, S.V. University Tirupati in February 22nd-24th, 2007. After presenting the paper, I thought that I should develop the theme into a well researched book form. But, yielding much to my second thoughts, I felt I should be content with taking its shape in a monograph. With my considerable experience in Yoga which I have been practicing in Patanjali’s tradition and with my vast reading of books on Zen, I humbly believe that this fascinating comparative study would best yield results both for the general readers and practioners and academicians as well in the long run and I am confident this small but inestimable study would pave the way for the scholars to plunge deeply into these two unique systems that India has given as divine gifts to humanity.

The author is very much grateful to Mrs. Anjana Bansal of Sharada Publishing House for publishing this book within a short period.