Description
Book SynopsisThis book was entirely conceived and developed by K. Ishwaran. The original concept was to combine two of Ishwaran’s major interests: comparative studies of the monastic systems of South Asia, and criticism of Western anthropological and sociological assumptions of tradition and modernity being antithetical, especially with regard to traditional religions. Later he conceived of broadening this topic by including major religious traditions around the world.
Table of ContentsJORDAN PAPER, Introduction: Ascetic Culture: Renunciation and Wordly Engagement S.A. NIGOSIAN, Zoroastrian Perception of Ascetic Culture ALAN DAVIES, Tradition and Modernity in Protestant Christianity BALKRISHNA G. GOKHALE, Theravada Buddhism and Modernization: Anagarika Dhammapala and B.R. Ambedkar JORDAN PAPER, Eremitism in China EARLE H. WAUGH, “Dead Men in Sultry Darkness”: Western Theory and the Problematic of a Baseline Cultural Motif in Islamic Ascetic Tradition DANIEL GOLD, Nath Yogis as Established Alternatives: Householders and Ascetics Today JOHN E. CORT, The Gift of Food to a Wandering Cow: Lay-Mendicant Interaction Among the Jains DAVID MILLER, Modernity in Hindu Monasticism: Swami Vivekananda and the Ramakrishna Movement KLAUS K. KLOSTERMAIER, Gaudya Vaisnavism: The Education of Human Emotions SHAMAN HATLEY AND SOHAIL INAYATULLAH, Karma Samnyāsa: Sarkar’s Reconceptualization of Indian Asceticism Contributors Index
