Professor

Professor Whicher joined the Department of Religion in 2000. He specializes in Hinduism, South Asian Indian Philosophy, and the Yoga tradition, and is the author of scholarly books and numerous articles that highlight Yoga philosophy and practice. Dr Whicher is currently working on a book entitled: Essays on the Yoga-Sutra: Engaging the World in Freedom.

Education

PhD University of Cambridge (1992)
MA Concordia University (1986)
BA Queen’s University (1979)

Research

The Yoga Tradition, South Asian Indian Philosophy, Hinduism

Teaching

RLGN 1320 Introduction to World Religions (Eastern)
RLGN 2010 Introduction to Hinduism
RLGN 3210 Indian Philosophy
RLGN 3220 Indian Religion and Society
RLGN 3270 Guru and Disciple
RLGN 4060 The Yoga Tradition
RLGN 4190 Advanced Studies in Hinduism
RLGN 7130 Seminar in Hinduism

Selected Publications

Books

Co-editor with David Carpenter. Yoga: The Indian Tradition. London and New York: RoutledgeCurzon (2003, reprint 2010); first Indian edition (Rupa and Co., New Delhi distributors) with Routledge (2004).

Patanjali’s Metaphysical Schematic: Purusa and Prakrti in the Yoga-Sutra-s. The Adyar Library Series No. 55. Adyar, India: The Adyar Library and Research Centre (2001).

The Integrity of the Yoga Darsana: A Reconsideration of Classical Yoga.  Albany: State University of New York Press (1998/99, reprint 2001).

Book Chapters and Articles

 “The Convergence of Seeing and Action in Yoga” in Engaged Hinduism:     World Engagement and Service in Hindu Thought and Practice. eds. Rita D. Sherma and Arvind Sharma (2017).

 “A Reassessment of Classical Yoga Philosophy” in Routledge History of Indian Philosophy ed. Purushottama Bilimoria, London and New York: Routledge (2017).

Co-authored with Kelly, Edward F., “Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Siddhis”, in Beyond Physicalism: Toward Reconciliation Between Science and Spirituality, ed. Edward Kelly, Adam Crabtree, and Paul Marshall, Roman and Littlefield: Lanham, Maryland (2015: 315-348).

 “From Radical to Co-operative Duality: Moving Towards a Non-Dualistic Interpretation of Classical Yoga”, SANDHI 1: 62-73 (2015).

 “A Reconsideration of the Yoga-Sutra”, The Adyar Library Bulletin, 76-77: 1-33, (2014).

 “Unifying Knowledge of Prakrti in Yoga: Samadhi-With-Seed”. Sambhasa (Nagoya Studies in Indian Culture and Buddhism) 28: 1-81 (2009).

 “The Liberating Role of Samskara in Classical Yoga.” Journal of Indian Philosophy, Vol 33, Numbers 5 and 6: 601-630 (Dec 2005).