Issue #10 | “On Philosophy”

In this issue of Tarka, we invite contributors to reflect on the meaning and role of philosophy — not as an abstract or purely academic exercise, but as an essential dimension of contemplative life and practice. Far from being the mere intellectualization of contemplative traditions, philosophy has, from the beginning, served as a vital and living current within them. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Indian traditions, where philosophy has long been understood as a way of seeing, a method of inquiry, and a means of transformation. Yet, due in large part to the dominance of European intellectual paradigms and the modern academy’s framing of the term “philosophy,” these traditions have often been misinterpreted, marginalized, or reduced to their dogmatic or doctrinal expressions.

In this issue, we seek to open a space for philosophy to be reconsidered: historically, cross-culturally, and as an applied practice integral to sādhanā. We aim to explore philosophy as a living mode of inquiry — one that bridges rigorous critical thought with the creative and transformative work of contemplative traditions. Our intention is not to reinforce narrow definitions or monopolies on what counts as philosophy, but to recover and reimagine its place within contemplative studies and practice.

Summary of the Project:

Too often, philosophy is imagined as a domain belonging exclusively to the Western canon, or as a discipline severed from lived experience and embodied practice. This issue of Tarka takes as its starting point the recognition that philosophy — as love of wisdom, as inquiry, as reflective practice — has been at the heart of contemplative traditions across cultures.

Indian darśana traditions exemplify a philosophy that is not simply speculation about reality, but an integrated approach to seeing, knowing, and experiencing the world. Similarly, in Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh thought, philosophy serves as both map and method. And yet, these contributions are too frequently seen as ethno-philosophy or spiritual belief, rather than as philosophy proper.

By challenging these inherited distinctions, this issue seeks to:

• Define philosophy from within contemplative studies and dharma traditions, showing how these traditions offer robust models of reasoning, reflection, and transformative inquiry.

• Encourage cross-cultural philosophy, exploring how contemplative traditions can dialogue with, critique, or complement Western philosophical frameworks.

• Illuminate philosophy as sādhanā, demonstrating how philosophical reflection can itself be a practice of self-cultivation, liberation, and creative renewal.

• Showcase applied philosophy, exploring how philosophical inquiry informs and is informed by yogic and meditative practices today.

Our hope is that contributors will reflect on how philosophy can be reimagined as a vital tool for both scholar-practitioners and practitioner-scholars: a way of thinking that does not float above practice, but arises from it and returns to it.

Possible topics include (but are not limited to):

• What is philosophy? Definitions of philosophy from the perspective of contemplative traditions.

• The place of philosophical reasoning within sādhanā and contemplative practice.

• Cross-cultural dialogues between Indian philosophy and other global traditions (Western, East Asian, African, Indigenous, etc).

• Applied philosophy: how contemplative reasoning informs ethical, social, or political engagement.

• Intellectual biographies of historical scholar-practitioners from various traditions.

• Reconsidering the boundaries of philosophy: critiques of the Eurocentric framing of the discipline.

• Comparative studies: how different traditions conceptualize the relationship between philosophy, practice, and liberation.

• Philosophical commentaries on key texts, concepts, or practices from contemplative traditions.

• Creative expressions of philosophy through poetry, storytelling, visual art, or other non-traditional forms.

• Reflections on how philosophy can serve as a bridge between academic study and lived contemplative experience.

We welcome contributions from philosophers, scholar-practitioners, contemplative writers, artists, and anyone engaged in the thoughtful integration of philosophy and practice.

Publication is scheduled for last quarter of 2026. Please send your abstracts or a short statement of your intention to write to stephanie@embodiedphilosophy.com and CC tarka@embodiedphilosophy.com.