A fundamental premise shared by many Indian philosophical schools of thought regards the subject as possessing an almost unlimited capacity for self-transformation. What does this premise entail in terms of the understanding of personal identity and the world, and what are the means and practices by which such transformation is to be achieved ? The seminar addresses these questions by providing close readings in a selection of Indian classical philosophical and literary works, including the the Kama-sutra, the Artha-sastra, the Mahabharata, the Yoga-vasistha, and the Buddhacaritam.