Ascetic Culture

"The collection of papers in this volume was entirely conceived and developed by K. Ishwaran, who died in June 1998. The original concept was to focus on 'Tradition and Innovation in Monastic Life in South Asia', a topic which combined two of Ishwaran's major interests: comparative studies of the monastic systems of South Asia, and criticism of Western anthropological and sociological assumptions of tradition and modernity being antithetical, especially with regard to traditional religions. Later he conceived of broadening this topic to be more liberally comparative, to include major religious traditions around the world. The new title was to be 'Tradition and Modernity in Monastic orders in Contemporary Societies'. Finally, he broadened the theme to the present title of his collection."--Jacket.