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When Monks Take Up Arms: Skilful Means as a Tactical Response to Violence in Buddhist Military Engagement

In the realm of advanced Mahāyāna practice, skill in means represents a fundamental aspect that defies prevalent cultural and philosophical assumptions surrounding Buddhist praxis. The lack of attention in mainstream discourse obstructs the apt comprehension of the doctrine and its ramifications, despite the significance that the concept bears. This dissertation investigates its critical role in real-life armed conflicts.

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Posted by Paula Kaminska Indic Studies

The Role of the Jain Doctrine of Nonviolence in India

In today’s India, ahiṃsā (nonviolence) is present in all Dharmic religions. Persisting throughout three millennia, it transformed Indian life—its religions, politics, and culture. This literature review (1) examines historically significant tactics of exerted impact, (2) discusses original instigators, and (3) traces the interaction of traditions to arrive at the premise of expansion of the Jain ideals across major traditions in the context of (a) attitude towards all life and (b) sacrificial ritual.

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Posted by Paula Kaminska Indic Studies

The Global Acclaim of Nonviolence in Hinduism: Early Factors

Over a century ago, Mahatma Gandhi inspired the world with a new mass means of liberation of the oppressed. His primary motivation arose from the virtue of nonviolence (ahiṃsā in Sanskrit). It served him to humanely liberate India from British rule. However, this ethical virtue stirred the country long before neo-Hinduism. It was a significant meditative practice and prerequisite for religious life back in ancient times. This research is the last one in the series. It briefly presents evidence from different periods produced by a host of systems exchanging the ideas—on nonviolence.

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Posted by Paula Kaminska Indic Studies

The Liberation of the Self in Indic Traditions

Brahmanism, Jainism and Buddhism are traditions indigenous to ancient India; while they share common origins, they developed distinct worldviews and methodologies. The purpose of this research is to explore their historical, semantic and doctrinal development and demonstrate links between their meditation systems. This second part of the series is centred around the exchange and divergence of the concept of liberation, and its corresponding beliefs and practices.

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Posted by Paula Kaminska Indic Studies

The Meaning of Yoga in the Oldest Text: The Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavadgītā of the Mahābhārata is a post-Vedic text seeking to affirm Brahmanism. It achieves it through a revision of the religious and philosophical doctrines of its milieu. It is the first material to comprehensively promote worldly activity by adopting yoga—appropriated from ascetic-renunciatory settings. The modernised yogic methods and orientations, weaved into Vedic dharma, are the prime focus. This research examines their composition by relying on a selection of academic translations.

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Posted by Paula Kaminska Indic Studies

A Quick Guide to Spiritual Veganism

Lots of yogis choose to eat vegan mindfully. Some do it for health reasons, some diet for peace, while others aim to deepen their spiritual practice. Let’s explore the connection between veganism and yoga and where you would place yourself on the spectrum.

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Posted by Paula Kaminska Wellness