Introductory Information and Introduction

Journal of Hindu-Christian Studies

Volume 16 Article 4

January 2003

Bradley Malkovsky

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Recommended Citation Malkovsky, Bradley (2003) "Introductory Information and Introduction," Journal of Hindu-Christian Studies: Vol. 16, Article 4. Available at: https://doi.org/10.7825/2164-6279.1293

The Journal of Hindu-Christian Studies is a publication of the Society for Hindu-Christian Studies. The digital version is made available by Digital Commons @ Butler University. For questions about the Journal or the Society, please contact [email protected]. For more information about Digital Commons @ Butler University, please contact [email protected]. Malkovsky: Introductory Information and Introduction

EDITORS

EDITOR: Bradley J. Malkovsky CO-EDITOR: Anand Amaladass 232 Malloy Hall Institute of Philosophy and University of Notre Dame Culture Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA 81 Lattice Bridge Road Email: [email protected] Thiruvanmiyur, Madras INDIA 600 041 EDITOR'S ASSISTANT: Sally A. Burns

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

R. Balasubramanian Raimundo Panikkar University of Pondicherry University of California, Santa Barbara Klaus Klostermaier S. Cromwell Crawford University of Manitoba University of Hawaii at Manoa Francis X. Clooney, S.]. David C. Scott Boston College United Theological College Julius Lipner J. T. K. Daniel University of Cambridge Serampore College John Carman R. Vijayalakshmi Harvard Divinity School International Institute for Tamil Studies U. R. Anantha Murthy DianaEck Mahatma Gandhi University Harvard University Margaret Chatterjee Westminster College, Oxford

EDITORIAL POLICY

The Hindu-Christian Studies Bulletin is an annual scholarly journal published jointly at the University of Notre Dame and at the Institute of Philosophy and Culture, Madras, India. It is the official publication of the Society for Hindu-Christian Studies. . The aim of the Bulletin is to create a worldwide forum for the presentation of Hindu-Christian scholarly studies, book reviews, and news of past and upcoming events. Materials selected for publication will be balanced between historical research and contemporary practice and, where possible, will employ analytical and theoretical analysis st:)t within the context of our shared contemporary experience. Contributions are invited and may be addressed to either the Editor or the Co-Editor. Articles of 3000-3500 words are preferred. Send manuscript in paper form as well as on diskette. A style sheet is available on request. The Bulletirl adopts a policy of non-gender specific language where applicable. All articles are subject to review before acceptance and may receive editorial modification in the course of publication.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

An annmil. subscription is included with membership in the Society for Hindu-Christian Studies. Membership annual dues: US dollars $31; students US dollars $15; special 3-year rate: US dollars $75. Subscription only rates (individuals and institutions): US dollars $12; Overseas address: US dollars $13. Single copies of back issues: US dollars $10. No other currencies can be accepted. Make check or money order in US dollars payable to the Society for Hindu-Christian Studies and mail to Bradley Malkovsky at the address above. For. subscription information within India, please write to Anand Amaladass, at the address above. The Bulletin is indexed in the ATLA Religion Database, published by the American Theological Library Association.

Published by Digital Commons @ Butler University, 2003 J1 Journal of Hindu-Christian Studies, Vol. 16 [2003], Art. 4

EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION

THE Hindu-Christian encounter takes place author notes a real affinity between some in many venues today: in the daily Hindu and Christian spiritualities and their interaction of neighborhood and workplace, common quest to realize the presence of the in emotionally charged confrontations over Eternal in a world in which religion is mission and social justice, and in the sometimes subjected to misuse for temporal gathering of scholars at learned societies, to ends. name but a few. The main topic of this issue T. S. Rukmani turns her attention to the of the Bulletin is the role Vedanta has played work of Richard De Smet, S.J. (1916-1997), and continues to play in the theological and the leading twentieth century Christian spiritual encounter of Hindus and Christians, interpreter in India of Sankara's (ca. 700 a theme going back at least as far as the c.B.) Advaita Vedanta. While sympathizing s.eventeenth century missionary Roberto de with De Smet's attempt to establish Nobili in south India. Although Vedanta has . commonalities or parallels between been historically comprised of many schools Sankara's ontology and Christian teaching, - at least ten - the essays here by two Hindu she concludes that De Smet misunderstands and two Christian authors are by and large the great acarya, primarily because of an limited to an examination of the impact of inadequate understanding of Sanskrit one tradition in particular on Christianity: exegetical method and because of what she Advaita (non-dualistic) Vedanta. The sees as a very selective reading of Sankara's articles are therefore limited in scope. They texts. She concludes by noting a necessary approach the topic both historically and opposition between two disparate systematically, pointing out both the flaws understandings of the Ultimate: of the past and the possibilities for the future . Christianity's personal creator God and for this intellectual and spiritual encounter. Advaita's impersonal and non-relational It is hoped that Bulletin articles and book brahman. reviews to come will deal with the In the next essay Ted Ulrich traces the importance of other expressions of Vedanta development of Henri Le Saux's (Swami for the encounter with Christianity. Abhishiktananda's) understanding and Klaus Klostermaier summarizes both the hermeneutic of the Upanishads and their achievement .and failings of three twentieth impact on his understanding of the God of century European Christian s annyas ins Christianity. Abhishiktananda's discovery living in India: Father Jules Monchanin, of the true challenge posed by Advaita to Dom Henry Ie Saux, and Dom Bede Christian spirituality and thought is Griffiths. While he considers them sincere in awakened by his encounter with Ramana their attempts to understand Hinduism and Maharshi and his disciples; through them emJ:?race as far as possible its sannyasa Swamiji comes to a greater realization of the lifestyle, he points out the difficulty of radical nature and subtlety of the divine regarding them as genuine sannyasins, given presence. However, in his pursuit of the the fact that they avoided standard Hindu experience of the Divine Abhishiktananda rules and regulations pertaining to the life of did not follow the path of scholarly exegesis the renunciate and because they did not tend of Upanishadic texts as laid down by the to associate with traditional Hindu centers of Advaita tradition. Rather he read the learning and tradition. Many modem Upanishads repetitively and prayerfully Hindus regard. such attempts at inculturating through the lens, of the teaching of the Christian monasticism into· Hindu garb as Maharshi, and he regularly lived long illegitimate and deceptive. Nevertheless the periods of time among Hindu ascetics. In

https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/jhcs/vol16/iss1/4Hindu-Christian Studies Bulletin 16 (2003) 1-2 DOI: 10.7825/2164-6279.1293 2 ...,.. ".-I Malkovsky: Introductory Information and Introduction I 2 Bradley Malkovsky

addition Swamiji incorporated the method of the presence of God," an analysis reading passages from the Upanishads and Rambachan sees as akin to the Advaita Bible side-by-side, a process that deepened' "ignorance" (avidya). And like Advaita, his appreciation and understanding of both Borg focuses on spiritual liberation as sacred texts and led to a transforming something that must take place in and shape encounter with the Absolute. our present life. But Rambachan, who leans In the final article dealing with Vedanta toward a realist rather than an illusionist and Christianity Anantanand Rambachan approach to Advaita ontology, not only examines the .work of the contemporary believes that Christian theology has much to Christian biblical scholar, Marcus Borg, and gain by exposure to Advaita spirituality and his significance for the Advaita-Christiari. interiority, he also argues that Christianity encounter. Borg proposes as an alternative offers to Advaita a sense of the reality of the to Christianity's traditional world and a concern for social involvement anthropomorphizing supernatural theism a and alleviation of the world's physical theology of panentheism that asserts God as suffering that have been too long ignored by an all-pervasive reality, a teaching that bears Advaita's followers. some resemblance to the Advaita view of brahman. In place of sin and guilt as the Bradley Malkovsky determining categories to understand human University of Notre Dame spiritual bondage Borg places "blindness to

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