Contemplative Studies and Hinduism: Meditation, Devotion, Prayer, and Worship

This book explores Hindu contemplative practices and their cultural significance,covering themes from classical texts to cross-cultural comparisons. It provides insights into interiority,reflection,and transformative practices, advancing the field of contemplative studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 214 pages
Publication date: 25 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive academic survey delves into the diverse range of Hindu contemplative practices, exploring their spiritual and religious dimensions. It examines various spiritual and religious traditions within the Hindu context, offering insights into meditative communion, contemplation, devotion, spiritual formation, prayer, ritual, and worship. By expanding the conceptual boundaries of Contemplative Studies and Hindu Studies, the volume offers a profound exploration of Hindu contemplative experiences.

The chapters in this volume cover a wide spectrum of themes, drawing from classical texts such as the Sāṃkhya and Patañjali Yoga, the Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Advaita Vedānta, Śrīvidyā, and the Śrīcakra. They also explore the role of Sādhana in Tantra, the body in Tantra, the semiotics and illocution of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava sādhana, mantra in Mīmāṃsā, Vaiṣṇava liturgy, and cross-cultural reflections. The volume employs indigenous vocabulary and frameworks to examine categories and concerns specific to Hindu contemplative traditions. It traces patterns that transcend Hindu traditions and systems, highlighting the rich diversity of theological and philosophical schools within Hindu religious thought and practice.

Through intra-religious comparisons, the volume reveals the internal complexity, nuances, and diverse contemplative states and transformative practices that exist within the realm of Hindu practices of interiority and reflection. With insightful insights into the forms and functions of the contemplative experience, along with their theologies and philosophies, the volume proposes new hermeneutical directions that will further advance the field of contemplative studies.

This book is a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, and practitioners interested in exploring the depths of Hindu contemplative traditions. Its comprehensive approach provides a rich tapestry of insights that will deepen our understanding of these ancient practices and their profound impact on contemporary spirituality and religious life.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367558635