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Books > Religion & Spirituality > Non-Christian sacred works & liturgy
Dialogue is a recurring and significant component of Indian
religious and philosophical literature. Whether it be as a
narrative account of a conversation between characters within a
text, as an implied response or provocation towards an interlocutor
outside the text, or as a hermeneutical lens through which
commentators and modern audiences can engage with an ancient text,
dialogue features prominently in many of the most foundational
sources from classical India. Despite its ubiquity, there are very
few studies that explore this important facet of Indian texts. This
book redresses this imbalance by undertaking a close textual
analysis of a range of religious and philosophical literature to
highlight the many uses and functions of dialogue in the sources
themselves and in subsequent interpretations. Using the themes of
encounter, transformation and interpretation - all of which emerged
from face-to-face discussions between the contributors of this
volume - each chapter explores dialogue in its own context, thereby
demonstrating the variety and pervasiveness of dialogue in
different genres of the textual tradition. This is a rich and
detailed study that offers a fresh and timely perspective on many
of the most well-known and influential sources from classical
India. As such, it will be of great use to scholars of religious
studies, Asian studies, comparative literature and literary theory.
The Qur'an between the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republic is
one of the few book-length studies on an Ottoman Qur'an commentary.
Its premise is that "the Ottoman Empire" did not come to an end
until 1950 so far as Islam was concerned in Turkey. The work
explores the relationship between Elmalili's Qur'an commentary and
the intellectual trends of the period, including the impact of
materialism, the sciences, notions of civilizational progress, and
philosophy. In doing so, this study emphasizes the "local" aspect
of the Qur'an commentary, through a sustained focus on the Istanbul
context in which it was written. This work demonstrates that
Elmalili's Qur'an commentary is a product of and reaction to the
religious, intellectual, political, and social trends of the
period. This work, in considering all the factors that led to the
commissioning of Elmalili's Qur'an commentary, also contributes to
our understanding of the history of Islam in early to
mid-twentieth-century Turkey. This intellectual history of modern
Islamic thought contributes to our understanding of the genre of
Qur'an commentary in the early twentieth century. It is a key text
for students and scholars interested in Islam in the Ottoman Empire
and Turkey, modern Islamic thought, and the Middle East.
The poetry emanating from the bhakti tradition of devotional love
in India has been both a religious expression and a form of
resistance to hierarchies of caste, gender, and colonialism. Some
scholars have read this art form through the lens of resistance and
reform, but others have responded that imposing an interpretive
framework on these poems fails to appreciate their authentic
expressions of devotion. This book argues that these declarations
of love and piety can simultaneously represent efforts towards
emancipation at the spiritual, political, and social level. This
book, through a close study of Nalini (1911), a Malayalam lyric
poem, as well as other poems, authored by Mahakavi Kumaran Asan
(1873-1924), a low-caste Kerala poet, demonstrates how Asan
employed a theme of love among humans during the modern period in
Kerala that was grounded in the native South Indian bhakti
understanding of love of the deity. Asan believed that personal
religious freedom comes from devotion to the deity, and that love
for humans must emanate from love of the deity. In showing how
devotional religious expression also served as a resistance
movement, this study provides new perspective on an understudied
area of the colonial period. Bringing to light an under-explored
medium, in both religious and artistic terms, this book will be of
great interest to scholars of religious studies, Hindu studies, and
religion and literature, as well as academics with an interest in
Indian culture.
Offers an in depth comparative look at the Epic of Gilgamesh and
the Primeval History, which allows students to view the Genesis
within its Near Eastern context. Offers a fresh model for
approaching this comparative task, which has at times been stifled
by religious dogmatism, on the one hand, or disciplinary insularity
on the other. Written in a lucid style with explanation of all key
terms and themes, this book is suitable for students with no
background in the subjects.
This volume explores the relationship between the Qur'an and the
Jewish and Christian traditions, considering aspects of continuity
and reform. The chapters examine the Qur'an's retelling of biblical
narratives, as well as its reaction to a wide array of topics that
mark Late Antique religious discourse, including eschatology and
ritual purity, prophetology and paganism, and heresiology and
Christology. Twelve emerging and established scholars explore the
many ways in which the Qur'an updates, transforms, and challenges
religious practice, beliefs, and narratives that Late Antique Jews
and Christians had developed in dialogue with the Bible. The volume
establishes the Qur'an's often unique perspective alongside its
surprising continuity with Judaism and Christianity. Chapters focus
on individual suras and on intra-Qur'anic parallels, on the
Qur'an's relationship to pre-Islamic Arabian culture, on its
intertextuality and its literary intricacy, and on its legal and
moral framework. It illustrates a move away from the problematic
paradigm of cultural influence and instead emphasizes the Qur'an's
attempt to reform the religious landscape of its time. The Qur'an's
Reformation of Judaism and Christianity offers new insight into the
Islamic Scripture as a whole and into recent methodological
developments, providing a compelling snapshot of the burgeoning
field of Qur'anic studies. It is a key resource for students and
scholars interested in religion, Islam, and Middle Eastern Studies.
Indian art, increasingly popular in the west, cannot be fully
appreciated without some knowledge of the religious and
philosophical background. This book, first published in 1985,
covers all aspects of Hindu iconography, and explains that its
roots lie far back in the style of prehistoric art. The dictionary
demonstrates the rich profusion of cults, divinities, symbols,
sects and philosophical views encompassed by the Hindu religious
tradition.
This acclaimed spiritual masterpiece is widely regarded as one of the most complete and authoritative presentations of the Tibetan Buddhist teachings ever written. A manual for life and death and a magnificent source of sacred inspiration from the heart of the Tibetan tradition, The Tibetan Book Of Living and Dying provides a lucid and inspiring introduction to the practice of meditation, to the nature of mind, to karma and rebirth, to compassionate love and care for the dying, and to the trials and rewards of the spiritual path.
The Mahavidyas are the representative Tantric feminine pantheon
consisting of ten goddesses. It is formed by divergent religious
strands and elements: the matr and yogini worship, the cult of Kali
and Tripurasundari, Vajrayana Buddhism, Jain Vidyadevis, Saiva and
Vaisnava faith, Srividya, the Brahmanical strand of Puranic
traditions, etc. This volume is the first attempt to explore the
historical process, through which these traditions culminated in
the Mahavidya cult and the goddesses with different origins and
contradictory attributes were brought into a cluster, with special
reference to socio-political changes in the lower Ganga and
Brahmaputra Valley between the 9th and 15th centuries CE. Based on
a close analysis of Puranas, Tantras and inscriptional evidence,
and on extensive field research on archaeological remains as well
as sacred sites, Jae-Eun Shin discusses the two trajectories of the
Mahavidyas in eastern Sakta traditions. Each led to the
systematization of Dasamahavidyas in a specific way: one, as ten
manifestations of Durga upholding dharma in the cosmic dimension,
and the other, as ten mandalic goddesses bearing magical powers in
the actual sacred site. Their attributes and characteristics have
neither been static nor monolithic, and the mode of worship
prescribed for them has changed in a dialectical religious process
between Brahmanical and Tantric traditions of the region. This is
the definitive work for anyone seeking to understand goddess cults
of South Asia in general and the history of eastern Sakta
traditions in particular. To aid study, the volume includes images,
diagrams and maps. Please note: Taylor & Francis does not sell
or distribute the Hardback in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan,
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
As the world becomes increasingly globalised Islam faces some
important choices. Does it seek to "modernise" in line with the
cultures in which it is practised, or does it retain its traditions
even if they are at odds with the surrounding society? This book
utilizes a critical rationalist viewpoint to illuminate many of the
hotly contended issues in modern Islam, and to offer a fresh
analysis. A variety of issues within Islam are discussed in this
book including, Muslims and modernity; Islam, Christianity and
Judaism; approaches to the understanding of the Quran; Muslim
identity and civil society; doctrinal certainty and violent
radicalism. In each case, the author makes use of Karl Popper's
theory of critical rationalism to uncover new aspects of these
issues and to challenge post-modern, relativist, literalist and
justificationist readings of Islam. This is a unique perspective on
contemporary Islam and as such will be of significant interest to
scholars of Religious Studies, Islamic Studies and the Philosophy
of Religion.
Fully revised and updated, the second edition of The Wiley
Blackwell Companion to the Qur' n offers an ideal resource for
anyone who wishes to read and understand the Qur' n as a text and
as a vital component of Muslim life. While retaining the literary
approach to the subject, this new edition extends both the
theological and philosophical approaches to the Qur' n. Edited by
the noted authority on the Qur' n, Andrew Rippin, and Islamic
Studies scholar Jawid Mojaddedi, and with contributions from other
internationally renowned scholars, the book is comprehensive in
scope and written in clear and accessible language. New to this
edition is material on modern exegesis, the study of the Qur' n in
the West, the relationship between the Qur' n and religions prior
to Islam, and much more. The Wiley Blackwell Companion to the Qur'
n is a rich and wide-ranging resource, exploring the Qur' n as both
a religious text and as a work of literature.
The Upanisads are among the most sacred foundational scriptures in
the Hindu religion. Composed from 800 BCE onwards and making up
part of the larger Vedic corpus, they offer the reader "knowledge
lessons" on life, death, and immortality. While they are essential
to understanding Hinduism and Asian religions more generally, their
complexities make them almost impenetrable to anyone but serious
scholars of Sanskrit and ancient Indian culture. This book is
divided into five parts: Composition, authorship, and transmission
of the Upanisads; The historical, cultural, and religious
background of the Upanisads; Religion and philosophy in the
Upanisads; The classical Upanisads; The later Upanisads. The
chapters cover critical issues such as the origins of the
Upanisads, authorship, and redaction, as well as exploring the
broad religious and philosophical themes within the texts. The
guide analyzes each of the Upanisads separately, unpacking their
contextual relevance and explaining difficult terms and concepts.
The Upanisads: A Complete Guide is a unique and valuable reference
source for undergraduate religious studies, history, and philosophy
students and researchers who want to learn more about these
foundational sacred texts and the religious lessons in the Hindu
tradition.
Shaykh Tantawi Jawhari was an Egyptian exegete known for having
produced a scientific interpretation of the Qur'an. A pioneering
scholar in terms of familiarising the people of his time with many
previously neglected matters regarding Islam and science, his
publications shocked the Cairo educational system and other Muslim
places of learning in the early twentieth century. This book
examines the intersection between Tantawi Jawhari and Egyptian
history and culture, and demonstrates that his approach to science
in the Qur'an was intimately connected to his social concerns.
Divided into three parts, part one contains three chapters which
each introduce different aspects of Tantawi Jawhari himself. The
second part explores the main aspects of his tafsir, discussing his
approach to science and the Qur'an, and how he presented Europeans
in his tafsir, and then addressing the impact of his tafsir on
wider Muslim and non-Muslim society. The third section draws
attention to the themes from all 114 suras of the Qur'an that are
discussed within his commentary. It then analyses the current
status of his views and the post-Jawharism perspective on science
and the Qur'an, both today and in an imaginary future, in 2154.
Providing new English translations of Tantawi Jawhari's work, the
book delivers a comprehensive assessment of this unique figure, and
emphasises the distinctive nature of his reading of the Qur'an. The
book will be a valuable resource for anyone studying modern Egypt,
the Qur'an, Islam and Science, and scientific interpretation and
inimitability.
This book examines culture, religion and polity in the context of
Buddhism. Gananath Obeyesekere, one of the foremost analytical
voices from South Asia develops Freud's notion of 'dream work', the
'work of culture' and ideas of no-self (anatta) to understand
Buddhism in contemporary Sri Lanka. This work offers a restorative
interpretation of Buddhist myths in contrast to the perspective
involving deconstruction. The book deals with a range of themes
connected with Buddhism, including oral traditions and stories, the
religious pantheon, philosophy, emotions, reform movements,
questions of identity and culture, and issues of modernity. This
fascinating volume will greatly interest students, teachers and
researchers of religion and philosophy, especially Buddhism,
ethics, cultural studies, social and cultural anthropology, Sri
Lanka and modern South Asian history.
Rediscover the space you need in between your work, your schedule,
and your limits by eliminating unneeded frustrations and reflecting
on how you spend your time. From Richard Swenson, author of the
bestselling book "Margin," this devotional's 180 daily readings
offer encouragement, healing, and rest as you deal with time
management, stress, and busyness.
This book makes the Qur'an accessible to the English-speaking
student who lacks the linguistic background to read it in the
original Arabic by offering accessible translations of, and
commentary on, a series of selected passages that are
representative of the Islamic scripture. Mustanstir Mir, Director
of the Center for Islamic Studies at Youngstown State University,
offers clear translations and analysis of 35 selected passages of
the Qur'an that will help students understand what kind of book the
Qur'an is, what the scripture says, and how it says it.
The Bhagavad Gita is the best known of all the Indian scriptures,
and Eknath Easwaran's best-selling translation is reliable,
readable, and profound. Easwaran's 55-page introduction places the
Bhagavad Gita in its historical setting, and brings out the
universality and timelessness of its teachings. Chapter
introductions clarify key concepts, and notes and a glossary
explain Sanskrit terms. Easwaran grew up in the Hindu tradition in
India, and learned Sanskrit from a young age. He was a professor of
English literature before coming to the West on a Fulbright
scholarship. A gifted teacher, he is recognized as an authority on
the Indian classics and world mysticism. The Bhagavad Gita opens,
dramatically, on a battlefield, as the warrior Arjuna turns in
anguish to his spiritual guide, Sri Krishna, for answers to the
fundamental questions of life. Yet, as Easwaran points out, the
Gita is not what it seems - it's not a dialogue between two
mythical figures at the dawn of Indian history. "The battlefield is
a perfect backdrop, but the Gita's subject is the war within, the
struggle for self-mastery that every human being must wage if he or
she is to emerge from life victorious." Arjuna's struggle in the
Bhagavad Gita is acutely modern. He has lost his way on the
battlefield of life and turns to find the path again by asking
direct, uncompromising questions of his spiritual guide, Sri
Krishna, the Lord himself. Krishna replies in 700 verses of sublime
instruction on living and dying, loving and working, and the nature
of the soul. Easwaran shows the Gita's relevance to us today as we
strive, like Arjuna, to do what is right. "No one in modern times
is more qualified - no, make that 'as qualified' - to translate the
epochal Classics of Indian Spirituality than Eknath Easwaran. And
the reason is clear. It is impossible to get to the heart of those
classics unless you live them, and he did live them. My admiration
of the man and his works is boundless." Huston Smith, author of The
World's Religions.
Advaita Vedanta is one of the most important and widely studied
schools of thought in Hindu religion and the Vivekacudamani is one
of the most important texts in the Advaita tradition and the most
popular philosophical work ascribed to the great Indian
philosopher, Sankara. Sankara (c.650-700) is considered to be a
giant among giants and probably the most venerated philosopher in
India's long history. The Vivekacudamani is in the form of a
dialogue between a preceptor (guru) and a pupil (sisya) expounding
the quintessence of Advaita in which the pupil humbly approaches
the preceptor and, having served the teacher selflessly, implores
to be rescued from worldly existence (samsara). The guru promises
to teach the way to liberation (moksa) which culminates in the
ecstatic experience of one's own Self. This book presents an
accessible translation of the entire text and also includes
Upanisadic cross-referencing to most of its 580 verses, extensive
notes, a lengthy Introduction, list of variant readings, an
extensive bibliography, and an index to the verses. All those
interested in Indian religion and philosophy, Hindu studies, or
Sanskrit, will find this readable English translation of an Indian
philosophical classic invaluable.
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