Bio

Dr. Sangeetha Menon is a philosopher-psychologist working in the area of consciousness studies and Indian psychology. She is a Professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, in the Indian Institute of Science campus in Bangalore, and heads the Consciousness Studies Programme at her Institute. Her published work highlights the importance of understanding the nature of complex experiences in the light of global humanistic values such as well-being and personal growth. Her work focuses on comparative study of emotions, nature of agency, and primacy of experience. Apart from her academic work she is an artist who is interested in poetry, fiction, classical dances, design and photography.

Her website is www.consciousnssshop.com
Resume: http://www.consciousnessshop.com/resume_onepage_menon.pdf
Lectures: http://www.consciousnessshop.com/lecture.html
Publications: http://www.consciousnessshop.com/publications.html
Board Memberships: http://www.consciousnessshop.com/memberships.html

Selected Publications

Books:

Eds. Menon, Sangeetha, Sinha, Anindya, and Sreekantan, BV (2012/2013 forthcoming) Interdisciplinary perspectives on Consciousness and the Self, Springer.

Menon, Sangeetha (2007) The Beyond Experience: Consciousness in the Bhagavad Gita, BlueJay Books, New Delhi.

Sankaracarya, Tuncettu Ezuttacchan and Sri Narayana (2002), Binding Experiences: Looking at the Contributions of Adi, Guru in the Context of Recent Discussions on Consciousness Studies , Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla.

Menon S. and Swami Bodhananda, (2002), Dialogues: Philosopher meets the seer, Srishti Publishers, New Delhi, 2002

Co-Editor with Roddam Narasimha, (2011), Nature and Culture: Project on the History of Science, Philosophy and Culture, Centre for Studies in Civilisations, New Delhi,

Editor, (2006), Consciousness, Experience and Ways of Knowing: Perspectives from Science, Philosophy and the Arts, National Institute Of Advanced Studies.

Editor, (2006), The Great Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004: An overview of a national disaster; National Institute Of Advanced Studies.

Eds. S. Menon, B.V.Sreekantan, Anindya Sinha, Philip Clayton, R Narasimha, (2004), Science and Beyond: Cosmology, consciousness and technology in Indic traditions, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore.

Eds. S. Menon, M.G.Narasimhan, A.Sinha, B.V.Sreekantan, (2002), Science and Metaphysics: A discussion on consciousness and genetics, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore.

Eds. S. Menon, M.G.Narasimhan, A.Sinha, B.V.Sreekantan, (1999), Scientific and Philosophical Studies on Consciousness, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore.

Papers and Commissioned Chapters

Menon, S. 2012/2013
Self and Transformative Experiences: Three Indian Philosophers on Consciousness
In: Interdisciplinary perspectives on Consciousness and the Self, Eds. Sangeetha Menon, Anindya Sinha, BV Sreekantan, Springer, 2012/2013 (forthcoming)

Menon, S. 2013
Altruism - Renouncing the Renunciant: A Discussion on Desire and Selflessness
In: Altruism in Cross-cultural Perspective, Ed. Doug Wakoch, Springer (in press)
Menon, S., Shankar R., Lakshmi K. 2012/2013

Love, Dialogue and Wellbeing
In: Handbook of Transpersonal Psychology, Eds. Glenn Hartelius & Harris Freidman, Wiley-Blackwell, 2012/2013 (in press)

Lakshmi, K. Menon, S. 2011
The implications of sthitaprajñatva in the context of self and psychological well-being: A character study from the Mahabharata. Indian Journal of Health and Well-being, 2(5), Indian Association of Health, Research and Welfare, ISSN -2229-5356 pp. 960-963.

Menon, S. 2011
Movement, continuity and mystic symbolism: The science of Hindu art. Asian Geographic, No.82, Issue 5, pp. 68-70

Menon, S. 2011
A discussion on the philosophy of Sri Narayana Guru in the context of consciousness studies In: Re-interpreting Tradition: Critical Essays on 20th Century Indian Thought to be published under the Special Assistance Programme (UGC) at the Department of Philosophy, University of North Bengal. (forthcoming)

Menon, S. 2011
Brain-challenged Self and Self-challenged Brain: The central impasse in consciousness studies In: Brain Science and Kokoro: Asian Perspectives on Science and Religion, Nanzan Institute of Religion and Culture, Nagoya,
Japan pp. 79-120
Open Access: http://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/Shuppanbutsu/Shinpozia/Brain_Science.htm

Menon, S, 2011
Brain, Self, and Consciousness: Emerging Perspectives in Mental Health
In: Handbook of psychology in India, Oxford University Press, pp 36-45

Menon, S. 2011
A first-person approach to aesthetic emotions in Natyasastra
In: R Narasimha and S Menon (Eds.), Nature and Culture, PHISPC and Centre for Studies in Civilizations, New Delhi, pp. 259-270

Menon, S. 2011
Reason, Emotion and Wellbeing: An understanding of consciousness
In: Psychology and Psychoanalysis, PHISPC & Pearson Education (in press)

Menon, S. 2010
Brain-challenged self and Self-challenged brain
Working Paper, National Institute of Advanced Studies, 2010.

Menon, S. 2010
Introductory Essay on "Religion and Science" by Bertrand Russell
http://www.issrlibrary.org/introductory-essays/essay/?title=Religion%20and%20Science&ref=essays
International Society for Science and Religion Library Project, Cambridge

Menon, S. 2010
Introductory Essay on "Varieties of Religious Experiences" by William James
http://www.issrlibrary.org/introductory-essays/essay/?title=The%20Varieties%20of%20Religious%20Experience&ref=essays
International Society for Science and Religion Library Project, Cambridge

Menon, S. 2010
Introductory Essay on "Cross-cultural Studies on Consciousness" by K Ramakrishna Rao http://www.issrlibrary.org/introductory-essays/essay/?title=Consciousness%20Studies:%20Cross-Cultural%20Perspectives&ref=essays
International Society for Science and Religion Library Project, Cambridge

Menon, S. 2010
Dialogues on Brain Sciences and Religion
In: Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture Bulletin: 34.8-76, 2010

Menon, 2010
The Concept of Consciousness In: Indian Culture: Encyclopaedic Survey; Science and Society Eds. Jaikishandas Sadani and Bithaldas Mundra,
Bharatiya Vidya Mandir, Bikaner, pp.316-337

Menon, S. 2010
Cognitive and Experiential Foundations of Consciousness and 'Spiritual agency'
In: History and Philosophy of Science PHISPC-CONSSAVY / Volume 8, Part VI, Indian Council of Philosophical Research
Ed. Pradip Kumar Sengupta, General Editor: DP Chattopadhyaya, pp 685-694

Menon, S. 2009
Persistent Puzzles of Consciousness: What is it? Where is it?
In: Understanding Consciousness - Recent Advances, Ramakrishna Mission Inst of Culture, Kolkata, pp178-192

Menon, S. 2009
Commentary on In defence of an Indian approach to the psychology of emotion, Anand C. Paranjpe, Psychological Studies, 54.1

Menon, S. 2009
The Puzzle of Consciousness and Experiential Primacy: Agency in Cognitive Sciences and Spiritual Experiences In: Global Perspectives on Science and Spirituality, Ed. Pranab Das, Templeton Press, pp.3-20

Menon, S. 2009
The Rain clouds of Mind-Modifications and the Shower of Transcendence: Yoga and Samadhi in Patanjali Yoga Sutra
In: Yoga and Parapsychology: Empirical Research and Theoretical Essays, Ed. Ramakrishna Rao, Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, pp. 169-199

Menon, S. 2008
Transpersonal Psychology of the Bhagavad Gita: Consciousness, Meditation, Work and Love In Handbook of Indian Psychology, Cambridge University Press, Eds. K Ramakrishna Rao, Anand Paranjpe and Ajit Dalal, pp.186-216

Menon, S. 2007
Basics of 'Spiritual Altruism' The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 39:2, pp.137-152

Menon, S. 2006
What is Indian Psychology: Transcendence in and while Thinking
The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 37(5): 83-98

Menon, S. 2006
Advaita Vedanta, The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (peer reviewed)
http://www.iep.utm.edu/a/adv-veda.htm
for full listing see http://www.iep.utm.edu/a/
General editors: James Fieser & Bradley Dowden
Area Editor: Shyam Ranganathan

Menon, S. 2007
Hinduism and Science
In The Oxford Handbook of Religion and Science, Oxford University Press, Cambridge
Eds. Philip Clayton & Zachory Simpson, pp 7-23

Menon, S. 2006
Basics of Consciousness
In Consciousness, Society and Values,
Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla,
Ed. AV Afonso, pp.27-37

Menon, S. 2006
The puzzle of experiential primacy and consciousness
In Consciousness, Experience and Ways of Knowing, National Institute Of Advanced Studies, proceedings of the conference by the same title sponsored by the Templeton Foundation programme on Global Perspectives on Science and Spirituality, pp 218-228; The video of this lecture is available at http://www.uip.edu/gpss_major/spip.php?article179

Menon, S. 2005
Experience of _Expression: Instances from Indian dramaturgy and a discussion on 'consciousness' Leonardo Electronic Almanac Volume 13, Number 9, September 2005
http://lea.mit.edu, The MIT Press

Menon, S. 2005
Understanding the 'what' and 'where' of consciousness: Revisiting the Bhagavad Gita to ask a few more questions; Omega: Indian Journal of Science and Religion, IV(2): 88-99

Menon, S. 2005
Heal Thy Spirit. Heritage Amruth, Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traiditions, Vol1. pp 38-40

2005, R. Narasimha, Sangeetha Menon, Papiya Bhattacharya and M. B. Rajani,
Six months after the tsunami, Current Science, 89(9-10): 1459-1461

Menon, S. 2005
Book Review of Psychology of Human and Social Development: Lessons from Diverse Cultures, Summerhill: IIAS Review Vol. X No.1 & 2, Sage Publications
Eds. John W Berry, RC Mishra and RS Tripathi, pp 95-98

Menon, S. 2005
Book Review of 'Cit: Consciousness (Bina Gupta, 2003)
Journal of Indian Council of Philosophical Research, XXI.1 pp 279-287

Menon, S. 2005
Self and self-transcendences in the Bhagavad Gita
In Self, Society and Science: Theoretical and Historical Perspectives Vol XI Part 2 of 'History of Science, Philosophy and Culture in Indian Civilization, Centre for Studies in Civilizations, New Delhi, Ed. DP Chattopadhyaya, pp217-229

Menon, S. 2005
Being and wellbeing in the Upanishadic literature
In Towards a spiritual psychology Delhi: Samvad India Foundation,
Eds. K Ramakrishna Rao, & Sonali Bhatt Marwaha, pp. 72-96.

Menon, S. 2004
Beyond what and what is beyond? In Science and Beyond: Consciousness, cosmology and technology in Indic traditions
Eds. S. Menon, , A.Sinha, B.V.Sreekantan, R Narasimha and Philip Clayton
National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, 2004, pp 185-190

Menon, S. 2004
Experience of Expression: Instances from Indian dramaturgy and a discussion on 'consciousness'
http://mitpress2.mit.edu/e-journals/Leonardo

Menon, S. 2003
Getting digital manuscripts: New technologies for digital preservation and publication
The Indian Archives, Special Number: Information Technology and Preservation, National Archives of India, XLIX(1-2): 41-44

Menon, S. 2003
Being Free: 'Consciousness' and 'freedom' according to the Bhagavad Gita
In 'Applications of oriental philosophical thought in mental health', Ed JP Balodhi,
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, NIMHANS Publication No 47, pp 43-49

Menon, S. 2003
Binding experiences for a first person approach: Looking at Indian ways of thinking (darsana) and acting (natya) in the context of current discussions on 'consciousness'
In On Mind and Consciousness, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla and Department of Humanitiees and Social Sciences IIT Kharagpur,
Eds. Chhanda Chakraborti, Manas K Mandal and Rimi B Chatterjee, pp 90-117

Menon, S. 2002
The ontological pragmaticity of karma in the Bhagavad Gita: A mind to meditate and the meditative mind, In: Perspectives on Indigenous Psychology, Advances in Psychological Research in India - Series 3,
Concept Publishing Company, New Delhi, Eds. G Mishra and A K Mohanty, pp 326-338

Menon, S. 2002
Research Brief (on consciousness and self-exploration in Indian thought)
Meet the Researcher series, The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 34(1): 67-71

Menon, S. 2002
The Selfish Meme and the Selfless Atma
Sophia: International journal for philosophy of religion, metaphysical theology and ethics, Ashgate Publishing Ltd., 41(1): 83-88

Menon, S. 2002
Structure of Mind and Structured Mind
Indian Philosophical Quarterly, 29(2-3): 334-344
For e-copy See http://unipune.ac.in/snc/cssh/ipq/english/vol29_2%20&%203.htm

Menon, S. 2001
Towards a Sankarite approach to consciousness studies: A discussion in the context of recent interdisciplinary scientific perspectives, Journal of Indian Council of Philosophical Research, 18(1): 95-111

Menon S. 2002
Beside the intender and the integrator": Looking at two "faces" of consciousness
In Science and Metaphysics: A Discussion on Consciousness and Genetics, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore,
Eds. S Menon, A Sinha and B V Sreekantan, pp. 164-177

Menon, S. 2001
The ontological pragmaticity of karma in the Bhagavad Gita: A mind to meditate and the meditative mind In Perspectives on indigenous psychology. Advances in Psychological Research in India-series 3, Concept Publishing Company, New Delhi,
Eds. G Mishra and A K Mohanty, pp 326-338

Menon, S. 2001
Beside two faces of consciousness: Looking at the 'intentor' and the 'integrator'
In: Consciousness and its transformations, Sri Aurobindo International Centre for Eductaion, Pondicherry, Ed. Matthijs Cornelissen, pp 295-306

Menon, S. 2001
Towards a Sankarite approach to consciousness studies: A discussion in the context of recent interdisciplinary scientific perspectives
Journal of Indian Council of Philosophical Research Vol. XVIII, No.1, 2001
The ontological pragmaticity of karma in the Bhagavad Gita: A mind to meditate and the meditative mind. In: Perspectives on indigenous psychology, eds. G Mishra and A K Mohanty, Advances in Psychological
Research in India-series 3, Concept Publishing Company, New Delhi, 2001

Menon, S. 1999
Novel, Cost-effective Methods of Archiving Manuscripts, Current Science, Vol.76, No.10, May 1999; Novel, Cost-effective Methods of Archiving Manuscripts
the first version of this paper was published as a NIAS Report and released by K.R. Narayanan, the President of India, in 1998.

Menon, S. 1998
The ontological pragmaticity of Karma in the Bhagavad Gita
Journal of Indian Psychology, Andhra University, January 1998

Menon, S. 1997
Concepts of consciousness and materiality in Bhagavad Gita
Encyclopaedia of Indian Culture, Vol. 8.on Science and Society, Bharatiya Samskrti Samsad, Calcutta, pp.

NIAS Publications:

Monographs and Working Papers
From Shelves to Digital Media: On digital archiving and publication R1-2002, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, 2002

Binding Experiences for a First-Person Approach: Looking at Indian Ways of Thinking (darsana) and Acting (natya) in the Context of Current Discussions on 'Consciousness', WP1-2002, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, 2002

Understanding the 'what' and 'where' of Consciousness: Revisiting the Bhagavad Gita to ask a few more questions, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, 1999