Classical Buddhism, Neo-Buddhism and the Question of Caste

This book explores the interface between Buddhism and the caste system in India, tracing the historical development of Buddhism's response to caste and its intersections with class and gender. It compares different approaches to varṇa and caste developed by modern thinkers with Ambedkar's criticisms and offers a rigorous study of the textual tradition of Buddhism in India.

Format: Hardback
Length: 306 pages
Publication date: 22 October 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Inc

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate relationship between Buddhism and the caste system in India,spanning from its early stages to contemporary forms such as Theravāda, Mahāyāna, Tantrayāna, and Navayāna. It explores how Buddhism, in its diverse manifestations, has grappled with the issue of caste, examining the intersections between caste, class, and gender. The volume also reflects on the interplay between Hinduism and Buddhism, examining critiques of caste within the classical Buddhist tradition and highlighting the radical challenge posed by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's Navayāna Buddhism, also known as neo-Buddhism.

The essays in the book further compare approaches to varṇa and caste developed by modern thinkers like M. K. Gandhi and S. Radhakrishnan with Ambedkar's criticisms and his departures from mainstream appraisals.

Employing an interdisciplinary approach, the volume combines insights from literature, philosophy, political science, and sociology to explore contemporary critiques of caste from the perspective of Buddhism and its historical context. By analyzing religion through the lens of caste and gender, it also delves into the complex relationship between religion and politics, offering a rigorous study of the textual tradition of Buddhism in India.

This book is of immense value to scholars and researchers in Indian philosophy, Buddhist studies, Indology, literature (especially Sanskrit and Pāli), exclusion and discrimination studies, history, political studies, women studies, sociology, and South Asian studies. It provides a deep understanding of the historical and cultural dynamics that have shaped the relationship between Buddhism and caste in India, shedding light on the ongoing challenges and opportunities for social transformation.

Weight: 638g
Dimension: 162 x 241 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780815381679