Downloaded 4.0 License

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Downloaded 4.0 License Numen 67 (2020) 373–401 brill.com/nu Getting off the Wheel: A Conceptual History of the New Age Concept of Enlightenment Bas J.H. Jacobs Faculty of Humanities, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands [email protected] Abstract Although many new agers believe that enlightenment is the end goal of spiritual devel- opment, the importance of this concept has largely been overlooked by scholars until now. This article contextualizes the concept of enlightenment historically. After a de- tailed description of what the new age concept of enlightenment entails, it traces the origin of the concept to the late 19th-century “Oriental reaction” to Theosophy, when “missionaries from the East” like Vivekananda and Suzuki drew on transcendentalism, Theosophy, and recent innovations in psychology to articulate a paradigmatic expres- sion of Asian soteriology. It highlights the importance of models of enlightenment in the transmission of Asian ideas and follows the trajectory that starts with Vivekananda and Suzuki to figures and currents like Aldous Huxley, 1960s counterculture, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, and neo-advaita. Thereby, it provides an account of the formation of the new age concept of enlightenment. Keywords enlightenment – transcendentalism – Theosophy – Vivekananda – Suzuki – Huxley – Osho What is enlightenment? In January 1992, spiritual teacher Andrew Cohen (b. 1955) published a journal dedicated to clearing up the confusion surround- ing the concept — appropriately titled What is Enlightenment? — and in the first issue he tried to answer that very question. He tells us that © Bas J.H. Jacobs, 2020 | doi:10.1163/15685276-12341588 This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC BY-NCDownloaded 4.0 License. from Brill.com09/28/2021 10:10:27AM via free access 374 Jacobs Enlightenment is a condition in which there is a conscious knowing that one has come to the end of becoming. To be fully Enlightened means to come to the end of evolution, the end of the possibility of any evolu- tion. Even people who glimpse what Enlightenment is for a brief period have intimation of the kind of finality that I’m speaking about. It is the element of finality that makes that kind of knowing that I am speaking about so extraordinary and so difficult to describe to people who haven’t tasted it … It is Absolute. A. Cohen 1992: 1 What will be apparent to anyone who frequently visits new age settings is how important the concept of enlightenment is to the new age.1 Many new agers believe that enlightenment is the end goal of spiritual progress. They believe that specific individuals have attained enlightenment and that an association with these individuals is desirable, beneficial, and inspiring. Most have a vague notion that practices such as meditation, in addition to the worldly benefits they offer, aim at enlightenment. A small subgroup will actively seek to attain enlightenment, a process for which the association with an enlightened “mas- ter” (who is not only enlightened but also guides others to enlightenment) is essential.2 Many new agers will keep a few pictures of masters they feel a spe- cial connection to in their living spaces, and they will own at least a few books with teachings from enlightened masters procured from a local esoteric book store, a spiritual center, or, nowadays, the internet. Although these enlight- ened masters will often belong to specific lineages and religious traditions, the specifics rarely concern the new ager, who draws inspiration from masters of different traditions. Olav Hammer (2010) has argued that the new age is more uniform than scholars sometimes assume. If so, enlightenment is certainly one of its central ideas — even though Hammer does not mention it. Why, then, has the new age concept of enlightenment received so little attention from scholars? To begin with, a concept that is so ubiquitous as enlightenment is often not seen for how alien and foreign it is. The concept will seem so natural and obvi- ous to anyone who frequents new age circles that it does not require elabora- tion. At the same time, the concept is notoriously opaque, which is why you can find popular literature with the sole purpose of articulating the meaning of the term. This ambiguity presents problems for scholars. Although we may be 1 I am referring to the new age sensu lato (Hanegraaff 1996). 2 A directory of enlightened masters is provided by Rawlinson 1997. NumenDownloaded 67 from (2020 Brill.com09/28/2021) 373–401 10:10:27AM via free access Getting off the Wheel 375 unable to provide a clear definition of enlightenment, we can, however, know something about it. It should be clear, first, that the sort of ultimate soteriological attainment described here is not the enlightenment of the Enlightenment (German: der Aufklärung, French: les Lumières), but the “spiritual” enlightenment referred to in German as Erleuchtung and in French as illumination. Second, note that, although these terms are related to the Christian concept of divine illumina- tion (Latin: illuminatio or illustratio; Greek: Phôtismos), the emphasis on a final and complete state of liberation that can be attained within the confines of earthly existence suggests that we are dealing with a concept mostly foreign to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.3 Therefore, we must distinguish between divine illumination and what we might call the “new age concept of enlighten- ment;” nevertheless, based on fieldwork in the new age community and the reading of popular works, it is possible to identify six characteristics of the lat- ter. It was thought best to state these at the outset to facilitate comprehension, although much of the supporting evidence will be discussed below. (1) Enlightenment is described as a final release — a state rather than an (necessarily finite) experience. It is the be-all and end-all: the goal of spiritual practice and the completion of spiritual growth and progress. It is the end of all striving and a release from reincarnation and cyclic ex- istence. Often, practices that provisionally aim at physical or psychologi- cal healing are seen as part of a path that culminates in enlightenment. Of course, some schools argue that there is no path and that you are al- ready there — the trick is knowing that you are. The latter view is mainly found in the neo-advaita movement (Frisk 2002: 66). (2) Enlightenment is available to all, and is not the exclusive territory of the re- ligious specialist. Techniques that aim at bringing about enlightenment — among which “meditation” always figures prominently — can be learned from courses, seminars, books, audio, and video recordings.4 (3) Enlightenment is described as the end of an evolutionary development. (4) On a psychological level, enlightenment is described as a modification, transformation, or alteration of consciousness.5 The state of enlightenment 3 For a historical introduction to the concept of divine illumination, see Pasnau 2015. 4 On his personal website, www.andrewcohen.com, Cohen offers a twelve-part self-study course in what he calls “evolutionary enlightenment,” consisting of eleven one-hour teaching videos and one live question-and-answer session, which promises the applicant “a thrilling journey of awakening,” at US$ 250. The advertisement was posted on May 16, 2018. 5 See, e.g., Rawlinson who speaks of a “spiritual psychology” underlying interactions between enlightened masters and their followers (1997: xvii, 96). Enlightenment is also an impor- tant, albeit contested, concept in the transpersonal psychology of Ken Wilber (b. 1949); see Numen 67 (2020) 373–401 Downloaded from Brill.com09/28/2021 10:10:27AM via free access 376 Jacobs does not preclude the normal functioning of other human faculties, which, even in a transformed state, remain functional (Ullman and Reichenberg-Ullmann 2001: xv). (5) The experience of getting enlightened is described in narratives that paint a picture of enlightenment and authenticate the enlightened master and his or her experience.6 Here, enlightenment is described as a mystical experience, i.e., as an encounter or merger with a transcen- dent reality.7 This requires some elaboration. By mysticism, I mean, in the non-technical sense, “a specific religious system or practice, de- liberately undertaken in order to come to some realization or insight, to come to unity with the divine, or to experience the ultimate reality directly” (Webb 2017). Mysticism is distinct from what Ernst Troeltsch referred to as “mystical religion” — the idea that all genuine religiosity is mysticism.8 New agers conceive of enlightenment as a mystical experi- ence on the lines of the “common core thesis” in the comparative study of mysticism. The common core thesis holds that mystical experience is a universal phenomenon that is essentially the same for mystics from different traditions, even when it is interpreted differently. This position, also known as “perennialism,” is associated with, among others, William James, Aldous Huxley, and Walter Stace.9 The common core thesis has been challenged by scholars who argue that interpretation is an essential part of any experience, so that mystical experiences from different tradi- tions are dissimilar and distinct.10 Now, as far as the new age concept of enlightenment goes, enlightenment is conceived in the same way pe- Wilber 2006. For a critical perspective on Wilber’s understanding of enlightenment, see Ferrer 2015. 6 For a popular collection of such narratives, sometimes generated by questionable cut- and-paste methods, see Ullman and Reichenberg-Ullmann 2001. The introduction (xv– xx) encapsulates much of new age thinking on enlightenment at the start of the new millennium. 7 As does Ken Wilber who writes that “Enlightenment is the realization of oneness with all states and structures that are in existence at any given time” (2006: 95). 8 For a discussion of Troeltsch’s concept and its relevance to the new age, see Campbell 1977 and 1978.
Recommended publications
  • Bhagavata Purana
    Bhagavata Purana The Bh āgavata Pur āṇa (Devanagari : भागवतपुराण ; also Śrīmad Bh āgavata Mah ā Pur āṇa, Śrīmad Bh āgavatam or Bh āgavata ) is one of Hinduism 's eighteen great Puranas (Mahapuranas , great histories).[1][2] Composed in Sanskrit and available in almost all Indian languages,[3] it promotes bhakti (devotion) to Krishna [4][5][6] integrating themes from the Advaita (monism) philosophy of Adi Shankara .[5][7][8] The Bhagavata Purana , like other puranas, discusses a wide range of topics including cosmology, genealogy, geography, mythology, legend, music, dance, yoga and culture.[5][9] As it begins, the forces of evil have won a war between the benevolent devas (deities) and evil asuras (demons) and now rule the universe. Truth re-emerges as Krishna, (called " Hari " and " Vasudeva " in the text) – first makes peace with the demons, understands them and then creatively defeats them, bringing back hope, justice, freedom and good – a cyclic theme that appears in many legends.[10] The Bhagavata Purana is a revered text in Vaishnavism , a Hindu tradition that reveres Vishnu.[11] The text presents a form of religion ( dharma ) that competes with that of the Vedas , wherein bhakti ultimately leads to self-knowledge, liberation ( moksha ) and bliss.[12] However the Bhagavata Purana asserts that the inner nature and outer form of Krishna is identical to the Vedas and that this is what rescues the world from the forces of evil.[13] An oft-quoted verse is used by some Krishna sects to assert that the text itself is Krishna in literary
    [Show full text]
  • 151545957.Pdf
    Universit´ede Montr´eal Towards a Philosophical Reconstruction of the Dialogue between Modern Physics and Advaita Ved¯anta: An Inquiry into the Concepts of ¯ak¯a´sa, Vacuum and Reality par Jonathan Duquette Facult´ede th´eologie et de sciences des religions Th`ese pr´esent´ee `ala Facult´edes ´etudes sup´erieures en vue de l’obtention du grade de Philosophiae Doctor (Ph.D.) en sciences des religions Septembre 2010 c Jonathan Duquette, 2010 Universit´ede Montr´eal Facult´edes ´etudes sup´erieures et postdoctorales Cette th`ese intitul´ee: Towards A Philosophical Reconstruction of the Dialogue between Modern Physics and Advaita Ved¯anta: An Inquiry into the Concepts of ¯ak¯a´sa, Vacuum and Reality pr´esent´ee par: Jonathan Duquette a ´et´e´evalu´ee par un jury compos´edes personnes suivantes: Patrice Brodeur, pr´esident-rapporteur Trichur S. Rukmani, directrice de recherche Normand Mousseau, codirecteur de recherche Solange Lefebvre, membre du jury Varadaraja Raman, examinateur externe Karine Bates, repr´esentante du doyen de la FESP ii Abstract Toward the end of the 19th century, the Hindu monk and reformer Swami Vivekananda claimed that modern science was inevitably converging towards Advaita Ved¯anta, an important philosophico-religious system in Hinduism. In the decades that followed, in the midst of the revolution occasioned by the emergence of Einstein’s relativity and quantum physics, a growing number of authors claimed to discover striking “par- allels” between Advaita Ved¯anta and modern physics. Such claims of convergence have continued to the present day, especially in relation to quantum physics. In this dissertation, an attempt is made to critically examine such claims by engaging a de- tailed comparative analysis of two concepts: ¯ak¯a´sa in Advaita Ved¯anta and vacuum in quantum physics.
    [Show full text]
  • Forgotten Bibles: Friedrich Max Müller's Edition of the Sacred Books
    University of Groningen Forgotten Bibles: Friedrich Max Müller’s Edition of the Sacred Books of the East Molendijk, Arie Published in: Publications of the English Goethe Society DOI: 10.1080/09593683.2016.1224507 IMPORTANT NOTE: You are advised to consult the publisher's version (publisher's PDF) if you wish to cite from it. Please check the document version below. Document Version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Publication date: 2016 Link to publication in University of Groningen/UMCG research database Citation for published version (APA): Molendijk, A. (2016). Forgotten Bibles: Friedrich Max Müller’s Edition of the Sacred Books of the East. Publications of the English Goethe Society, 85(2-3), 159-169. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593683.2016.1224507 Copyright Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license (like Creative Commons). The publication may also be distributed here under the terms of Article 25fa of the Dutch Copyright Act, indicated by the “Taverne” license. More information can be found on the University of Groningen website: https://www.rug.nl/library/open-access/self-archiving-pure/taverne- amendment. Take-down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Downloaded from the University of Groningen/UMCG research database (Pure): http://www.rug.nl/research/portal.
    [Show full text]
  • Hinduism and Hindu Philosophy
    Essays on Indian Philosophy UNIVE'aSITY OF HAWAII Uf,FU:{ Essays on Indian Philosophy SHRI KRISHNA SAKSENA UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII PRESS HONOLULU 1970 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 78·114209 Standard Book Number 87022-726-2 Copyright © 1970 by University of Hawaii Press All Rights Reserved Printed in the United States of America Contents The Story of Indian Philosophy 3 Basic Tenets of Indian Philosophy 18 Testimony in Indian Philosophy 24 Hinduism 37 Hinduism and Hindu Philosophy 51 The Jain Religion 54 Some Riddles in the Behavior of Gods and Sages in the Epics and the Puranas 64 Autobiography of a Yogi 71 Jainism 73 Svapramanatva and Svapraka!;>atva: An Inconsistency in Kumarila's Philosophy 77 The Nature of Buddhi according to Sankhya-Yoga 82 The Individual in Social Thought and Practice in India 88 Professor Zaehner and the Comparison of Religions 102 A Comparison between the Eastern and Western Portraits of Man in Our Time 117 Acknowledgments The author wishes to make the following acknowledgments for permission to reprint previously published essays: "The Story of Indian Philosophy," in A History of Philosophical Systems. edited by Vergilius Ferm. New York:The Philosophical Library, 1950. "Basic Tenets of Indian Philosophy," previously published as "Are There Any Basic Tenets of Indian Philosophy?" in The Philosophical Quarterly. "Testimony in Indian Philosophy," previously published as "Authority in Indian Philosophy," in Ph ilosophyEast and West. vo!.l,no. 3 (October 1951). "Hinduism," in Studium Generale. no. 10 (1962). "The Jain Religion," previously published as "Jainism," in Religion in the Twentieth Century. edited by Vergilius Ferm.
    [Show full text]
  • I. New Additions to Parliament Library
    April 2008 I. NEW ADDITIONS TO PARLIAMENT LIBRARY 000 GENERALITIES 1 Sabharawal, Gopa India since 1947: the independent years / Gopa Sabharawal.-- New Delhi: Penguin Books, 2007. 392p.; 19.5cm. ISBN : 978-0-14310-274-8. 001 GOP-in B179455 2 Bopp, Richard E., ed. Reference and information services: an introduction / edited by Richard E. Bopp and Linda C. Smith.--3rd ed.-- Englewood: Libraries Unlimited, 2005. xxiv, 617p.: figs: boxes; 25.5cm. (Library and Information Science text series). Bibliography: p.580-590. ISBN : 1-56308-624-7. 025.52 BOP-r B179678 3 Pinto, Rochelle Between empires: print and politics in Goa /Rochelle Pinto.—- New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2007. xiv, 299p.; 23cm. Bibliography: p.268-294. ISBN : 9 78-0-19-569047-7. 070.175458 PIN-b B179609 4 Zamiruddin In stride: essays in jest and earnest / Zamiruddin.-- Bhopal: Quality Publishing, 2006. 240p.; 21.5cm. ISBN : 81-89200-40-2. 070.44 P6 B179824 5 Thorat, Sukhdeo, ed. Ambedkar in retrospect: essays on economics, politics and society /edited by Sukhdeo Thorat and Aryama.--Jaipur: Rawat Publications, 2007. vii, 36 0 p.; 2 2cm. ISBN : 81-316-0047-5. 080 AMB-t B179803 6 Gupta, D.N., ed. Bhagat Singh: select speeches and writings / edited by D.N. Gupta; foreword by Bipan Chandra.-- New Delhi: National Book Trust, 2007. xxiv, 152p.; 22cm. (Popular Social Science). ISBN : 978-81-237-4941-9. 080 BHA-b B180602 7 Nanda, B.R., ed. The collected works of Lala Lajpat Rai / edited by B.R. Nanda.-- New Delhi: Manohar Publishers, 2008. xxiv,432p.;24cm. ISBN : 81-7304-480-5.
    [Show full text]
  • Vedic Brahmanism and Its Offshoots
    Vedic Brahmanism and Its Offshoots Buddhism (Buddha) Followed by Hindūism (Kṛṣṇā) The religion of the Vedic period (also known as Vedism or Vedic Brahmanism or, in a context of Indian antiquity, simply Brahmanism[1]) is a historical predecessor of Hinduism.[2] Its liturgy is reflected in the Mantra portion of the four Vedas, which are compiled in Sanskrit. The religious practices centered on a clergy administering rites that often involved sacrifices. This mode of worship is largely unchanged today within Hinduism; however, only a small fraction of conservative Shrautins continue the tradition of oral recitation of hymns learned solely through the oral tradition. Texts dating to the Vedic period, composed in Vedic Sanskrit, are mainly the four Vedic Samhitas, but the Brahmanas, Aranyakas and some of the older Upanishads (Bṛhadāraṇyaka, Chāndogya, Jaiminiya Upanishad Brahmana) are also placed in this period. The Vedas record the liturgy connected with the rituals and sacrifices performed by the 16 or 17 shrauta priests and the purohitas. According to traditional views, the hymns of the Rigveda and other Vedic hymns were divinely revealed to the rishis, who were considered to be seers or "hearers" (shruti means "what is heard") of the Veda, rather than "authors". In addition the Vedas are said to be "apaurashaya", a Sanskrit word meaning uncreated by man and which further reveals their eternal non-changing status. The mode of worship was worship of the elements like fire and rivers, worship of heroic gods like Indra, chanting of hymns and performance of sacrifices. The priests performed the solemn rituals for the noblemen (Kshsatriya) and some wealthy Vaishyas.
    [Show full text]
  • Platonic Mysticism
    CHAPTER ONE Platonic Mysticism n the introduction, we began with the etymology of the word I“mysticism,” which derives from mystes (μύστης), an initiate into the ancient Mysteries. Literally, it refers to “one who remains silent,” or to “that which is concealed,” referring one’s direct inner experi- ence of transcendence that cannot be fully expressed discursively, only alluded to. Of course, it is not clear what the Mysteries revealed; the Mystery revelations, as Walter Burkert suggested, may have been to a significant degree cosmological and magical.1 But it is clear that there is a related Platonic tradition that, while it begins with Plato’s dialogues, is most clearly expressed in Plotinus and is conveyed in condensed form into Christianity by Dionysius the Areopagite. Here, we will introduce the Platonic nature of mysticism. That we focus on this current of mysticism originating with Plato and Platonism and feeding into Christianity should not be understood as suggesting that there is no mysticism in other tradi- tions. Rather, by focusing on Christian mysticism, we will see much more clearly what is meant by the term “mysticism,” and because we are concentrating on a particular tradition, we will be able to recog- nize whether and to what extent similar currents are to be found in other religious traditions. At the same time, to understand Christian mysticism, we must begin with Platonism, because the Platonic tra- dition provides the metaphysical context for understanding its latest expression in Christian mysticism. Plato himself is, of course, a sophisticated author of fiction who puts nearly all of what he wrote into the form of literary dialogues 9 © 2017 Arthur Versluis 10 / Platonic Mysticism between various characters.
    [Show full text]
  • Bringing the Divine Down Into Man: the Building
    Bringing the Divine down into Man: the building-up of the yoga path Trazendo o Divino para Dentro do Homem: a Construção do Sistema do Yoga Das Göttliche in den Menschen bringen: Die Konstruktion des Yoga Edrisi Fernandes 1 Resumo: O autor analisa a evolução do Yoga como uma disciplina ascética, desde o tempo da absorção dos habitantes originais da ?ndia pelas tribos arianas, que ali chegaram numa época proto-histórica. Ritos austeros, práticas mágicas, exercícios de controle respiratório e atitudes ascéticas dos habitantes locais foram incorporados na metafísica e na religião Védicas, e também no Yoga pré-clássico. A descoberta do poder das práticas ascéticas e meditacionais permitiu um distanciamento progressivo dos yogis em relação a práticas religiosas externas, tais como sacrifícios realizados com a intenção de favorecer os deuses, e a um avanço paralelo da visão do Yoga como um tipo de sacrifício em si mesmo, fundamentado na associação – entendida como uma ligação ou [re]união – entre o “Self”/a Alma vivente (âtman; jivâtman) do homem e a norma eterna (sanatana dharma), o “Senhor das Criaturas” (Prajâpati), o Ser Supremo (Parameshtin; Brahman; Shiva do Shaivismo; Vishnu do Vaishnavismo), ou a força ou poder (Shakti do Shaktismo [Tantrismo]) que torna a vida possível e que mantém o cosmos. Através de uma revisão do tema do Purusha (sânscrito para “pessoa; homem”, mas também para “Homem Universal; homem-deus”) em algumas referências clássicas da literatura indiana – incluindo o Rigveda, o Atharvaveda, muitos Upanishads, porções relevantes
    [Show full text]
  • Oriental Light Shining in Western Darkness: Thoreau's Use of the Mengzi in Walden
    2014 Hawaii University International Conferences Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences January 4, 5 & 6 2014 Ala Moana Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii Oriental Light Shining in Western Darkness: Thoreau’s Use of The Mengzi in Walden Qingjun Li Asian Studies and Foreign Language Department Belmont University Li 1 Dr. Qingjun Li Asian Studies and Foreign Language Department Oriental Light Shining in Western Darkness: Thoreau’s Use of The Mengzi in Walden In his Walden, Henry David Thoreau expresses his interest in Asia. Recognizing Thoreau’s use of Chinese philosophical ideas is important not only in understanding various passages but also in developing an appreciation for Thoreau’s overall project at Walden Pond. This paper calls attention to the ways Thoreau applied passages and allusions from Mengzi 孟子 (Mencius) to advance his argument on moral development in Walden, demonstrating how he throws Oriental light on the darkness in the West. Oriental Light Shining in Western Darkness: Thoreau’s Use of The Mengzi in Walden By Qingjun Li, Belmont University In his Walden, or Life in the Woods (1854), Henry David Thoreau expresses his interest in Asia. Arthur Versluis dubbed Thoreau’s curiosity about Asia as “sauntering eastwards” (79). Thoreau in turn wrote boldly of his own love for Asian thought, calling it a “saucy Orientalism” (Hodder 174). He spoke of the Oriental light (le oriente lux) shining on Western darkness in his 1862 essay “Walking” (2:10). In his Journal in 1842, he wondered: ‘‘was not Asia mapped in my brain before it was in any geography?”(1: 387). Recognizing Thoreau’s use of Asian ideas in Walden is important for us not only in understanding of various passages in the text, but also in developing an appreciation for Thoreau’s overall project at Walden Pond.
    [Show full text]
  • The Historical Development of Hinduism
    /=ir^Tr TTTF^ i'—"i Tr=^ JA rr \7 ^isrii ^iH^tV 0vtaivt Soetei^ z)floito^i^€t.pli ac-omtdSc/erc-es ^/Lu^mhe^v trofi^r XT TT(f==3P=r N JIJLY=AU u o ^aL 47 dtunXev 9^4 The Open Court Founded by Edward C. Hegeler Editors: GUSTAVE K. CARUS ELISABETH CARUS SECOND MONOGRAPH SERIES OF THE NEW ORIENT SOCIETY OF AMERICA NUMBER FOUR INDIA EDITED BY WALTER E. CLARK Published Monthly: January, June, September, December April-May, July- August, October-November Bi-monthly : February-March, THE OPEN COURT PUBLISHING COMPANY CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 149 EAST HURON STREET copies, 50c Subscription rates: $3.00 a year, 35c a copy, monograph the Post Office Entered as Secona-Class matter April 12. 1933. at 1879. at Chicago, Illinois, under Act of March 3, COPYRIGHT THK Ol'EN COVRT PUBLISUIXG CO. 1933 CONTENTS The Historical Development oe Hinduism 281 Hinduism 290 Hinduism as Religion and Philosophy 294 Caste 308 muhammadan conquest and influence on hlnduism 322 British Conquest and Government 326 Indian Nationalism 328 fiiHiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiyiiiififflriiiiiiiiiHiiirnriiiiiiiiiintiiPiiiiiiiiiiiiifiiiiijiiiiiii^^ ^^^^ ^.^pg^ i THE NEW ORIENT IN BOOKS <>:;' ^ W^iTifTrrrr ^ Philosophy of Hindu Sadhaiia. By Nalini Kanta Brahma, with a foreword by Sir Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan. London. Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, and Co. Ltd. 1933. Pp. xvi 333. In this volume on Hindu philosophy. Nalini Kanta Brahma has endeav- oured to point out the significance of the course of discipline prescribed by the different religious systems for the attainment of spiritual enlightenment. His interest is in the practical side of Hinduism and in showing the essential con- nection between theory and practice, although he gives a clear discussion of the philosophical concepts.
    [Show full text]
  • Transcendentalism and Chinese Perceptions of Western Individualism and Spirituality
    religions Article Transcendentalism and Chinese Perceptions of Western Individualism and Spirituality Sikong Zhao 1,* and Ionut Untea 2 ID 1 Institute of Philosophy, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, 1610 West Zhongshan Road, Shanghai 200235, China 2 School of Humanities, Department of Philosophy and Science, Wenke Building A, Jiulonghu Campus, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China; [email protected] or [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] or [email protected]; Tel.: +86-021-64862266 Received: 3 July 2017; Accepted: 16 August 2017; Published: 22 August 2017 Abstract: The article presents essential aspects of the intellectual debates in China over the theoretical achievement of Transcendentalism to generate a conception of individualism that bears the mark of Confucian and Daoist influences. The peculiar profile of the Transcendentalist individual avoids western dimensions that have been perceived in China as overindividualistic. Therefore, the inquiry over Transcendentalism opens up the intellectual debates on how traditional Confucian and Daoist teachings may be used also in China to bring about a renewed conception of the self and the individual’s life in social relationships that would be closer to a modern understanding of individualism. The Chinese problematization of the value of the individual in Chinese traditional culture sheds light on the non-western debates regarding cultural renewal. Keywords: transcendentalism; individualism; humanism; Confucianism; Daoism; over-soul; vast-flowing vigor; comprehensive thinking; cultural renewal 1. Introductory Remarks The connection operated by Transcendentalist thinkers between individualism and Chinese religions, has been acknowledged in western scholarship, although to a limited extent. One of the major causes of this limitation consists in the way the content of Asian religions has been appropriated by leading figures of Transcendentalism.
    [Show full text]
  • HT-101 History.Pdf
    Directorate of Distance Education UNIVERSITY OF JAMMU JAMMU SELF LEARNING MATERIAL B. A. SEMESTER - I SUBJECT : HISTORY Units I-IV COURSE No. : HT-101 Lesson No. 1-19 Stazin Shakya Course Co-ordinator http:/www.distanceeducation.in Printed and published on behalf of the Directorate of Distance Education, University of Jammu, Jammu by the Director, DDE, University of Jammu, Jammu ANCIENT INDIA COURSE No. : HT - 101 Course Contributors : Content Editing and Proof Reading : Dr. Hina S. Abrol Dr. Hina S. Abrol Prof. Neelu Gupta Mr. Kamal Kishore Ms. Jagmeet Kour c Directorate of Distance Education, University of Jammu, Jammu, 2019 • All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any form, by mimeograph or any other means, without permission in writing from the DDE, University of Jammu. • The script writer shall be responsible for the lesson/script submitted to the DDE and any plagiarism shall be his/her entire responsibility. Printed at :- Pathania Printers /19/ SYLLABUS B.A. Semester - I Course No. : HT - 101 TITLE : ANCIENT INDIA Unit-I i. Survey of literature - Vedas to Upanishads. ii. Social Life in Early & Later Vedic Age. iii. Economic Life in Early & Later Vedic Age. iv. Religious Life in Early & Later Vedic Age. Unii-II i. Life and Teachings of Mahavira. ii. Development of Jainism after Mahavira. iii. Life and Teachings of Buddha. iv. Development of Buddhism : Four Buddhist Councils and Mahayana Sect. Unit-III i. Origin and Sources of Mauryas. ii. Administration of Mauryas. iii. Kalinga War and Policy of Dhamma Vijaya of Ashoka. iv. Causes of Downfall of the Mauryas.
    [Show full text]