The 2025 Eurasia Summer Academy – Vienna Summer school on the History and Cultures of Asia 2025 event is an intensive one-week exploration of the diverse roles of language in South Asian philosophical and religious traditions. Participants will engage intensively with leading experts from the IKGA and ISTB, with lectures on specific subjects enriched by focused readings of relevant texts in the original Sanskrit. The event will address texts that engage with language in four broad areas: as a medium of communication, a spiritual instrument, a means of acquiring knowledge, and the object of grammatical exploration. It will examine how language serves as a vehicle for transmitting philosophical and religious teachings, facilitating communication between individuals, traditions, and cultures. The spiritual function of language will also be explored, particularly in practices where it is believed to transform consciousness and aid in spiritual liberation. Another key focus will be the role of language in acquiring knowledge, as many South Asian traditions regard language as a valid source of epistemic insight. Finally, the event will address the grammatical inquiry of language. Participants will gain a comprehensive introduction to the key theories from various intellectual traditions, including Nyāya, Vyākaraṇa, Vedānta, Buddhist and Tantra thought.

Course format

The structure of the event is designed to facilitate both broad engagement and in-depth study. Each morning will feature two sessions of lecturing and reading on a given topic, with the first lecture providing a general examination of the subject. The afternoons will be dedicated to reading Sanskrit works related to the topic, allowing participants to engage directly with primary sources. Additionally, each day will include a dedicated slot for students to present their research interests. This format, which has proven successful in all previous editions, ensures a balance between expert-led instruction, textual engagement, and active student participation.

Teaching staff

Marco Ferrante (IKGA)
Andrey Klebanov (ISTB)
Hiroko Matsuoka (ISTB)
Calahan Morse (IKGA)
Julian Schott (ISTB)

Prerequisites

Intermediate to good knowledge of scientific Sanskrit.

Credits

Students interested in acquiring credit points will obtain 5 ECTS points after a final evaluation and should contact the organisers after registration.

Fees

€ 400.– (including accommodation)
€ 100.– (without accommodation)

What is included?

Accommodation, including breakfast, for seven nights in central Vienna. Preparatory as well as accompanying course materials.

Registration

Registration will close on 15 May 2025. For any information and to apply, please send a CV and a short cover letter (300 words) to Dr. Marco Ferrante (marco.ferrante(at)oeaw.ac.at).