Jeffery Long | Elizabethtown College (original) (raw)

Lexington Series by Jeffery Long

The region historically known as the Indian subcontinent (and more recently as South Asia) is ric... more The region historically known as the Indian subcontinent (and more recently as South Asia) is rich with ancient and sophisticated traditions of intellectual and contemplative investigation. This includes both indigenous traditions (Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh) and traditions that have found a home in this region (Islamic, Christian, Jewish, and Zoroastrian). This series is devoted to studies rooted in critical and constructive methodologies (such as ethics, philosophy, and theology) that show how these traditions can illuminate universal human questions: questions about the meaning of life, the nature of knowledge, good and evil, and the broader metaphysical context of human existence. A particular focus of this series is the relevance of these traditions to urgent issues that face humanity today–such as the ecological crisis, gender relations, poverty and social inequality, and religiously motivated violence–on the assumption that these traditions, far from being of merely historical interest, have the potential to enrich contemporary conversations and advance human understanding.

Doctoral Dissertation by Jeffery Long

This dissertation attempts to construct a pluralistic approach to religion in the tradition of Ra... more This dissertation attempts to construct a pluralistic approach to religion in the tradition of Raimon Panikkar and John Hick, but with a significant difference. Unlike their theories, my approach is based on a synthesis of Whitehead’s process metaphysics and the Jain “philosophy of relativity.” I claim that a form of religious pluralism can be developed on the basis of this synthesis that expresses the understanding of the relativity of truth central to current versions of this position, without rejecting altogether the notion of an absolute truth as the logical foundation for the relativity of religious claims. The traditional Jain approach to religious and philosophical plurality is the model I use for developing a pluralistic system for the interpretation and evaluation of particular religious claims as relatively true, but I do so on the basis of Whitehead’s metaphysical theism. I claim that this approach improves upon previous theories while yet advancing the same basic position that many religions can be conceived as, in various senses, true.

Books (plus Reviews) by Jeffery Long

In the emerging field of world philosophy, Indian philosophy occupies a position of special impo... more In the emerging field of world philosophy, Indian philosophy occupies a position of special importance. Firstly, the Indian intellectual tradition has ongoing and direct relevance to the lives of over a billion human beings–constituting, as it does, the conceptual backgrounds of both the Hindu and Buddhist religions–religions that command the loyalty and shape the lives of persons across Asia and, increasingly, globally.
Indian philosophy also has both historical and philosophical significance for scholars of many cultural backgrounds. In terms of historical significance, understanding Indian philosophy is clearly central to an adequate understanding of the intellectual history of the Indian subcontinent. But Indian philosophy also has ancient ties to the European intellectual tradition from the inception of the latter, having close affinities to both pre-Socratic and Platonic thought, as well as being an important–albeit a little known and indirect–interlocutor with and influence upon early Christianity.
Substantively, Indian philosophies are relevant to a host of issues currently being explored by contemporary philosophers, particularly in relation to the nature of language, consciousness, and self. Distinctions made in Western philosophy among pre-modern, modern, and post-modern thought do not, in Indian philosophy, correspond to neatly separable historical periods–or rather, they do so even less in Indian philosophy than they do in the Western philosophical tradition. In other words, views that could be fairly described in substantive terms as “modern” and “post-modern” in a European or American intellectual context were present from a very early period in India. The modern and post-modern critiques of knowledge and power are anticipated and ways of approaching philosophical issues developed in classical Indian philosophy that continue to hold more than only historical interest for contemporary philosophers.
This volume will provide an historical overview of the Indian philosophical tradition from its pre-systematic foundations in ancient Indian reflection on the nature of the universe and humanity’s place within it, through the development of its subtle and highly sophisticated systematic forms in the classical period, to its modern continuation in the work of major figures who continue to refine and define this tradition in our world today. It will present these traditions in way that is sufficiently clear to be useful for beginning students of Indian philosophy, either in a university or college setting, or privately. It will also provide an extensive bibliography of sources that interested readers can use to continue their studies of particular traditions or issues in greater depth.
The book will begin with an introduction that will outline for the reader the broad contours of Indian philosophy–its distinctive concerns and assumptions (which will be preceded by a brief note to the reader regarding the correct pronunciation of Sanskrit terms). The first section, or set of chapters, of the book proper will be devoted to the ancient, pre-systematic phase of Indian philosophy as found in the literature of both Vedic and non-Vedic traditions of the first two millennia before the Common Era. The second section, which will constitute the majority of the text, will explore the classical systems of Indian philosophy in detail, with attention to issues and debates among the adherents of these systems. The third section will examine the modern period. The volume will conclude with a reflective chapter on the importance of studying the traditions covered in this book, a brief overview of relevant literature in this field, a chronology, glossary, bibliography, and index.

Incorporating a blend of historical and anthropological approaches, this book will trace the hist... more Incorporating a blend of historical and anthropological approaches, this book will trace the histories and the contemporary thought and practice of several distinct but inter-related (and sometimes overlapping) groups: immigrant or diasporic Hindu communities in North America; “converts,” or adherents of Hinduism from various ethnic backgrounds who were not born to Hindu families; and groups centered on the teaching of a particular guru or yoga tradition with clear Hindu provenance, not all of which self-identify as Hindu. It will also explore the influence and diffusion of Hindu concepts and practices such as karma and rebirth, meditation, and yoga in American consciousness, particularly through the medium of popular culture, and the emergence of an increasingly assertive socially and politically active American Hinduism. The research for this book will include both the already existing literature in this field and primary research by the author (including participant observation in Hindu American events, undertaken over the course of the last fifteen years, and interviews and interactions with a wide range of persons involved in the Hindu American community). The basic thesis of this book is that the phenomenon of Hinduism in America cannot be fully grasped unless one is attentive not only to diasporic Hindu communities, but also to converts and to the wider penumbra of guru traditions, the yoga movement, and larger cultural currents such as the emergence of the “spiritual but not religious” phenomenon.

Religions, MDPI, 2019

A volume of essays on the topic of rebirth, or reincarnation, which explore this topic from theol... more A volume of essays on the topic of rebirth, or reincarnation, which explore this topic from theological, philosophical, historical, and literary perspectives, with a primary focus on Hindu, Christian, and scientific claims about this topic.

This volume focuses on Buddhism and Jainism, two religions which, together with Hinduism, constit... more This volume focuses on Buddhism and Jainism, two religions which, together with Hinduism, constitute the three pillars of Indic religious tradition in its classical formulation. It explores their history and relates how the Vedic period in the history of Hinduism drew to a close around the sixth century BCE and how its gradual etiolation gave rise to a number of religious movements. While some of these remained within the fold of the Vedic traditions, others arose in a context of a more ambiguous relationship between the two. Two of these have survived to the present day as Buddhism and Jainism. The volume describes the major role Buddhism played in the history not only of India but of Asia, and now the world as well, and the more confined role of Jainism in India until relatively recent times. It examines the followers of these religions and their influence on the Indian religious landscape. In addition, it depicts the transformative effect on existing traditions of the encounter of Hinduism with these two religions, as well as the fertile interaction between the three. The book shows how Buddhism and Jainism share the basic concepts of karma, rebirth, and liberation with Hinduism while giving them their own hue, and how they differ from the Hindu tradition in their understanding of the role of the Vedas, the “caste system,” and ritualism in religious life. The volume contributes to the debate on whether the proper way of describing the relationship between the three major components of the classical Indic tradition is to treat them as siblings (sometimes as even exhibiting sibling rivalry), or as friends (sometimes even exhibiting schadenfreude), or as radical alternatives to one another, or all of these at different points in time.

See attached link to Google Books for most of the text of this book.

See attached link to Google Books for most of the text of this book.

Review by Ellen Gough of my book, Jainism: An Introduction (London: I.B. Taurus, 2009)

Two radically different ideologies are currently competing for the loyalties of the Hindu communi... more Two radically different ideologies are currently competing for the loyalties of the Hindu community. One of these ideologies, Hindu nationalism, conceives of Hinduness as co-extensive with Indianness. The other ideology, which has been articulated by such figures as Sri Ramakrishna and Mahatma Gandhi, repesents Hinduism as the 'eternal' or 'universal' religion. This is an idea of Hinduism that is pluralistic and all-inclusive. Arguing that Hindu nationalism is not only destructive of communal relations, but that it also prevents Hinduism from emerging as a world religion in the true sense of the term, the author here explores a reconfigured version of the second of these two ideologies. He presents a vision of Hinduism as a tradition capable of pointing the way towards a future in which all the world's religions manifest complementary visions of a larger reality - and in which they all, in various ways, participate. This radical religious agenda puts a new and ex...

See attached link to Google Books for most of the text of this book.

Review by Jean MacPhail of A Vision for Hinduism (American Vedantist, Summer 2007).

Review by M. Sivaramakrishna of A Vision for Hinduism, Prabuddha Bharata, January, 2010

This volume of primary readings (mostly English translations from Sanskrit) is designed as a com... more This volume of primary readings (mostly English translations from Sanskrit) is designed as a companion volume to the author’s Indian Philosophy: An Introduction, also to be published by I.B. Tauris. Each chapter of this volume will correspond to a chapter of Indian Philosophy: An Introduction. The intention is that the two can be read in tandem, either in the context of an advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate course in Indian philosophy, or as part of private study of this subject.

An in-depth exploration of the teachings of Swami Vivekananda and their relevance to such pressin... more An in-depth exploration of the teachings of Swami Vivekananda and their relevance to such pressing contemporary issues as inter-religious relations, religious fundamentalism, religion and violence, the challenge of the "new atheism," and the "spiritual but not religious" movement.

Papers by Jeffery Long

Religions, 2024

The well-known modern Hindu reformer and pioneer of Vedānta in the West, Swami Vivekananda (1863–... more The well-known modern Hindu reformer and pioneer of Vedānta in the West, Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902), based his ethical vision on mysticism: specifically, on the direct experience of non-duality and the ultimate unity and organic interconnectedness of all beings. This paper will explore the implications of this experientially based ethos for caste prejudice. Caste remains a hot-button issue in India to the present day and was no less so in the time of Swami Vivekananda. This system of social organization is rightly criticized by social justice advocates for the inequities it enshrines and enforces in Indian society. Because it has historically been justified by reference to Hindu textual sources—specifically such Dharma Śāstras as the Manusmṛti—prejudice based on caste, or casteism, has frequently been depicted, especially by critics of Hinduism, as essential or inherent to Hindu traditions. The implication of this identification of caste with Hinduism, and caste with social injustice, is that Hinduism is an intrinsically wicked and unjust religion. Such simplistic equations fail to consider the extent to which caste prejudice has been condemned by authoritative Hindu teachers, not least, by Swami Vivekananda himself. It is thus important to rearticulate Swami Vivekananda’s rejection of caste prejudice—and indeed, of all prejudice—based on Advaita Vedānta both to make the case against such prejudice in today’s world and to address criticisms of Hinduism as inherently or essentially casteist. Finally, it will be noted that Vivekananda’s criticisms of caste anticipate those of a contemporary anti-casteist voice from the Advaita tradition: that of Hindu theologian Anantanand Rambachan, who has also argued against prejudices of various kinds, including caste prejudice, based on Advaita Vedānta.

Religions, 2023

Saradamani Mukhopadhyay (1853–1920), more widely known as Sarada Devi and, to her devotees, the H... more Saradamani Mukhopadhyay (1853–1920), more widely known as Sarada Devi and, to her devotees, the Holy Mother, presents an illuminating case study of the various means by which, in many respects, a highly traditional and typical rural Hindu woman of her time, operating from within the categories of Bengali Hindu society, was able to navigate these categories in ways that did not undermine, but rather enhanced, her agency, enabling her to shape her social reality in creative and transformative ways. Inhabiting the traditional role of mother and nurturer while carrying it out in a highly non-traditional manner, Sarada Devi played a central, often behind-the-scenes, role as a major influencer of an important modern Hindu spiritual movement—indeed, the first such movement to be able to boast an international following. Having no biological children of her own, Sarada Devi became the mother to this movement and to the monastic order dedicated to carrying forward the vision of her husband, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (1836–1886), as interpreted both by herself and his disciples, the most prominent of whom was Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902), who is well known for having brought Ramakrishna’s teachings to the Western world through his lectures in America, including at the World Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893 and his founding of the first Vedanta Societies, starting in New York in 1894.

Journal of Dharma Studies, 2022

While it is sometimes characterized as a "world-denying" philosophy, Advaita, or non-dual Vedānta... more While it is sometimes characterized as a "world-denying" philosophy, Advaita, or non-dual Vedānta, with its vision of the ultimate oneness of all existence, bears within itself the capacity to form the conceptual basis not only for liberation as it traditionally understood in Hindu traditions-as mokṣa, or freedom from the cycle of rebirth-but also for a project of human emancipation in a more conventional, socio-political sense-as freedom from oppression and injustice. This paper will examine Advaita Vedānta, particularly as presented by Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), in terms of its implications for deep ecology.

The region historically known as the Indian subcontinent (and more recently as South Asia) is ric... more The region historically known as the Indian subcontinent (and more recently as South Asia) is rich with ancient and sophisticated traditions of intellectual and contemplative investigation. This includes both indigenous traditions (Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh) and traditions that have found a home in this region (Islamic, Christian, Jewish, and Zoroastrian). This series is devoted to studies rooted in critical and constructive methodologies (such as ethics, philosophy, and theology) that show how these traditions can illuminate universal human questions: questions about the meaning of life, the nature of knowledge, good and evil, and the broader metaphysical context of human existence. A particular focus of this series is the relevance of these traditions to urgent issues that face humanity today–such as the ecological crisis, gender relations, poverty and social inequality, and religiously motivated violence–on the assumption that these traditions, far from being of merely historical interest, have the potential to enrich contemporary conversations and advance human understanding.

This dissertation attempts to construct a pluralistic approach to religion in the tradition of Ra... more This dissertation attempts to construct a pluralistic approach to religion in the tradition of Raimon Panikkar and John Hick, but with a significant difference. Unlike their theories, my approach is based on a synthesis of Whitehead’s process metaphysics and the Jain “philosophy of relativity.” I claim that a form of religious pluralism can be developed on the basis of this synthesis that expresses the understanding of the relativity of truth central to current versions of this position, without rejecting altogether the notion of an absolute truth as the logical foundation for the relativity of religious claims. The traditional Jain approach to religious and philosophical plurality is the model I use for developing a pluralistic system for the interpretation and evaluation of particular religious claims as relatively true, but I do so on the basis of Whitehead’s metaphysical theism. I claim that this approach improves upon previous theories while yet advancing the same basic position that many religions can be conceived as, in various senses, true.

In the emerging field of world philosophy, Indian philosophy occupies a position of special impo... more In the emerging field of world philosophy, Indian philosophy occupies a position of special importance. Firstly, the Indian intellectual tradition has ongoing and direct relevance to the lives of over a billion human beings–constituting, as it does, the conceptual backgrounds of both the Hindu and Buddhist religions–religions that command the loyalty and shape the lives of persons across Asia and, increasingly, globally.
Indian philosophy also has both historical and philosophical significance for scholars of many cultural backgrounds. In terms of historical significance, understanding Indian philosophy is clearly central to an adequate understanding of the intellectual history of the Indian subcontinent. But Indian philosophy also has ancient ties to the European intellectual tradition from the inception of the latter, having close affinities to both pre-Socratic and Platonic thought, as well as being an important–albeit a little known and indirect–interlocutor with and influence upon early Christianity.
Substantively, Indian philosophies are relevant to a host of issues currently being explored by contemporary philosophers, particularly in relation to the nature of language, consciousness, and self. Distinctions made in Western philosophy among pre-modern, modern, and post-modern thought do not, in Indian philosophy, correspond to neatly separable historical periods–or rather, they do so even less in Indian philosophy than they do in the Western philosophical tradition. In other words, views that could be fairly described in substantive terms as “modern” and “post-modern” in a European or American intellectual context were present from a very early period in India. The modern and post-modern critiques of knowledge and power are anticipated and ways of approaching philosophical issues developed in classical Indian philosophy that continue to hold more than only historical interest for contemporary philosophers.
This volume will provide an historical overview of the Indian philosophical tradition from its pre-systematic foundations in ancient Indian reflection on the nature of the universe and humanity’s place within it, through the development of its subtle and highly sophisticated systematic forms in the classical period, to its modern continuation in the work of major figures who continue to refine and define this tradition in our world today. It will present these traditions in way that is sufficiently clear to be useful for beginning students of Indian philosophy, either in a university or college setting, or privately. It will also provide an extensive bibliography of sources that interested readers can use to continue their studies of particular traditions or issues in greater depth.
The book will begin with an introduction that will outline for the reader the broad contours of Indian philosophy–its distinctive concerns and assumptions (which will be preceded by a brief note to the reader regarding the correct pronunciation of Sanskrit terms). The first section, or set of chapters, of the book proper will be devoted to the ancient, pre-systematic phase of Indian philosophy as found in the literature of both Vedic and non-Vedic traditions of the first two millennia before the Common Era. The second section, which will constitute the majority of the text, will explore the classical systems of Indian philosophy in detail, with attention to issues and debates among the adherents of these systems. The third section will examine the modern period. The volume will conclude with a reflective chapter on the importance of studying the traditions covered in this book, a brief overview of relevant literature in this field, a chronology, glossary, bibliography, and index.

Incorporating a blend of historical and anthropological approaches, this book will trace the hist... more Incorporating a blend of historical and anthropological approaches, this book will trace the histories and the contemporary thought and practice of several distinct but inter-related (and sometimes overlapping) groups: immigrant or diasporic Hindu communities in North America; “converts,” or adherents of Hinduism from various ethnic backgrounds who were not born to Hindu families; and groups centered on the teaching of a particular guru or yoga tradition with clear Hindu provenance, not all of which self-identify as Hindu. It will also explore the influence and diffusion of Hindu concepts and practices such as karma and rebirth, meditation, and yoga in American consciousness, particularly through the medium of popular culture, and the emergence of an increasingly assertive socially and politically active American Hinduism. The research for this book will include both the already existing literature in this field and primary research by the author (including participant observation in Hindu American events, undertaken over the course of the last fifteen years, and interviews and interactions with a wide range of persons involved in the Hindu American community). The basic thesis of this book is that the phenomenon of Hinduism in America cannot be fully grasped unless one is attentive not only to diasporic Hindu communities, but also to converts and to the wider penumbra of guru traditions, the yoga movement, and larger cultural currents such as the emergence of the “spiritual but not religious” phenomenon.

Religions, MDPI, 2019

A volume of essays on the topic of rebirth, or reincarnation, which explore this topic from theol... more A volume of essays on the topic of rebirth, or reincarnation, which explore this topic from theological, philosophical, historical, and literary perspectives, with a primary focus on Hindu, Christian, and scientific claims about this topic.

This volume focuses on Buddhism and Jainism, two religions which, together with Hinduism, constit... more This volume focuses on Buddhism and Jainism, two religions which, together with Hinduism, constitute the three pillars of Indic religious tradition in its classical formulation. It explores their history and relates how the Vedic period in the history of Hinduism drew to a close around the sixth century BCE and how its gradual etiolation gave rise to a number of religious movements. While some of these remained within the fold of the Vedic traditions, others arose in a context of a more ambiguous relationship between the two. Two of these have survived to the present day as Buddhism and Jainism. The volume describes the major role Buddhism played in the history not only of India but of Asia, and now the world as well, and the more confined role of Jainism in India until relatively recent times. It examines the followers of these religions and their influence on the Indian religious landscape. In addition, it depicts the transformative effect on existing traditions of the encounter of Hinduism with these two religions, as well as the fertile interaction between the three. The book shows how Buddhism and Jainism share the basic concepts of karma, rebirth, and liberation with Hinduism while giving them their own hue, and how they differ from the Hindu tradition in their understanding of the role of the Vedas, the “caste system,” and ritualism in religious life. The volume contributes to the debate on whether the proper way of describing the relationship between the three major components of the classical Indic tradition is to treat them as siblings (sometimes as even exhibiting sibling rivalry), or as friends (sometimes even exhibiting schadenfreude), or as radical alternatives to one another, or all of these at different points in time.

See attached link to Google Books for most of the text of this book.

See attached link to Google Books for most of the text of this book.

Review by Ellen Gough of my book, Jainism: An Introduction (London: I.B. Taurus, 2009)

Two radically different ideologies are currently competing for the loyalties of the Hindu communi... more Two radically different ideologies are currently competing for the loyalties of the Hindu community. One of these ideologies, Hindu nationalism, conceives of Hinduness as co-extensive with Indianness. The other ideology, which has been articulated by such figures as Sri Ramakrishna and Mahatma Gandhi, repesents Hinduism as the 'eternal' or 'universal' religion. This is an idea of Hinduism that is pluralistic and all-inclusive. Arguing that Hindu nationalism is not only destructive of communal relations, but that it also prevents Hinduism from emerging as a world religion in the true sense of the term, the author here explores a reconfigured version of the second of these two ideologies. He presents a vision of Hinduism as a tradition capable of pointing the way towards a future in which all the world's religions manifest complementary visions of a larger reality - and in which they all, in various ways, participate. This radical religious agenda puts a new and ex...

See attached link to Google Books for most of the text of this book.

Review by Jean MacPhail of A Vision for Hinduism (American Vedantist, Summer 2007).

Review by M. Sivaramakrishna of A Vision for Hinduism, Prabuddha Bharata, January, 2010

This volume of primary readings (mostly English translations from Sanskrit) is designed as a com... more This volume of primary readings (mostly English translations from Sanskrit) is designed as a companion volume to the author’s Indian Philosophy: An Introduction, also to be published by I.B. Tauris. Each chapter of this volume will correspond to a chapter of Indian Philosophy: An Introduction. The intention is that the two can be read in tandem, either in the context of an advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate course in Indian philosophy, or as part of private study of this subject.

An in-depth exploration of the teachings of Swami Vivekananda and their relevance to such pressin... more An in-depth exploration of the teachings of Swami Vivekananda and their relevance to such pressing contemporary issues as inter-religious relations, religious fundamentalism, religion and violence, the challenge of the "new atheism," and the "spiritual but not religious" movement.

Religions, 2024

The well-known modern Hindu reformer and pioneer of Vedānta in the West, Swami Vivekananda (1863–... more The well-known modern Hindu reformer and pioneer of Vedānta in the West, Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902), based his ethical vision on mysticism: specifically, on the direct experience of non-duality and the ultimate unity and organic interconnectedness of all beings. This paper will explore the implications of this experientially based ethos for caste prejudice. Caste remains a hot-button issue in India to the present day and was no less so in the time of Swami Vivekananda. This system of social organization is rightly criticized by social justice advocates for the inequities it enshrines and enforces in Indian society. Because it has historically been justified by reference to Hindu textual sources—specifically such Dharma Śāstras as the Manusmṛti—prejudice based on caste, or casteism, has frequently been depicted, especially by critics of Hinduism, as essential or inherent to Hindu traditions. The implication of this identification of caste with Hinduism, and caste with social injustice, is that Hinduism is an intrinsically wicked and unjust religion. Such simplistic equations fail to consider the extent to which caste prejudice has been condemned by authoritative Hindu teachers, not least, by Swami Vivekananda himself. It is thus important to rearticulate Swami Vivekananda’s rejection of caste prejudice—and indeed, of all prejudice—based on Advaita Vedānta both to make the case against such prejudice in today’s world and to address criticisms of Hinduism as inherently or essentially casteist. Finally, it will be noted that Vivekananda’s criticisms of caste anticipate those of a contemporary anti-casteist voice from the Advaita tradition: that of Hindu theologian Anantanand Rambachan, who has also argued against prejudices of various kinds, including caste prejudice, based on Advaita Vedānta.

Religions, 2023

Saradamani Mukhopadhyay (1853–1920), more widely known as Sarada Devi and, to her devotees, the H... more Saradamani Mukhopadhyay (1853–1920), more widely known as Sarada Devi and, to her devotees, the Holy Mother, presents an illuminating case study of the various means by which, in many respects, a highly traditional and typical rural Hindu woman of her time, operating from within the categories of Bengali Hindu society, was able to navigate these categories in ways that did not undermine, but rather enhanced, her agency, enabling her to shape her social reality in creative and transformative ways. Inhabiting the traditional role of mother and nurturer while carrying it out in a highly non-traditional manner, Sarada Devi played a central, often behind-the-scenes, role as a major influencer of an important modern Hindu spiritual movement—indeed, the first such movement to be able to boast an international following. Having no biological children of her own, Sarada Devi became the mother to this movement and to the monastic order dedicated to carrying forward the vision of her husband, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (1836–1886), as interpreted both by herself and his disciples, the most prominent of whom was Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902), who is well known for having brought Ramakrishna’s teachings to the Western world through his lectures in America, including at the World Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893 and his founding of the first Vedanta Societies, starting in New York in 1894.

Journal of Dharma Studies, 2022

While it is sometimes characterized as a "world-denying" philosophy, Advaita, or non-dual Vedānta... more While it is sometimes characterized as a "world-denying" philosophy, Advaita, or non-dual Vedānta, with its vision of the ultimate oneness of all existence, bears within itself the capacity to form the conceptual basis not only for liberation as it traditionally understood in Hindu traditions-as mokṣa, or freedom from the cycle of rebirth-but also for a project of human emancipation in a more conventional, socio-political sense-as freedom from oppression and injustice. This paper will examine Advaita Vedānta, particularly as presented by Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), in terms of its implications for deep ecology.

International Journal of Hindu Studies, 2023

This article has two purposes. First, it aims to reformulate the threefold model of exclusivism, ... more This article has two purposes. First, it aims to reformulate the threefold model of exclusivism, inclusivism, and pluralism that has become standard in the theology of religions. It will then give an analysis of Swami Vivekananda's theology of religions that utilizes this reformulated model. Specifically, the article will argue for a differentiation of exclusivism, inclusivism, and pluralism on three distinct levels: the level of truth, the level of salvation, and a third, increasingly important level in our current global situation, the level of social interaction. It will be argued that Vivekananda's theology of religions is inclusivist with regard to truth and pluralistic with regard to both salvation and social interaction. It is hoped that the article will contribute both to the ongoing theological and philosophical conversation on religious diversity as well as advancing our understanding of the teachings of Vivekananda, whose thought has been characterized, variously, as pluralistic, inclusivist, and even as an articulation of Hindu nationalism. These varied interpretations arise partly from a failure to differentiate between the claim that many religions are true and the claim that many religions can lead their adherents to salvation, as well as a failure to give due attention to, or to cynically dismiss, the ethical claim of Vivekananda's teaching that it is incumbent on all of us as human beings to cultivate an attitude of acceptance toward the religious other. Vivekananda's teachings are thus at least as important in the twenty-first century as they were when he first articulated them.

Post-Christian Interreligious Liberation Theology

This chapter seeks to develop a foundation for a Hindu theology of liberation in the philosophy o... more This chapter seeks to develop a foundation for a Hindu theology of liberation in the philosophy of seva, or selfless service, developed by Swami Vivekananda. It shows the continuities of Vivekananda’s understanding of seva as part and parcel of a path to God-realization with ancient Indic sources such as the Bhagavad Gītā, the Dharma Śāstras, Buddhism, and Jainism, all of which seek, in varying ways, to reconcile the currents of renunciation and worldly engagement present in Indic thought. It then examines the equally strong continuities of Vivekananda’s thought and the “constructive program” of Mohandas K. Gandhi, arguing that Gandhi essentially implemented the ideal for which Vivekananda had provided the theoretical underpinnings in Vedāntic metaphysics. One can say that Gandhi translates the thought of Vivekananda into action.

International Journal of Hindu Studies, 2021

214 Swamiji’s Distinctive Perspective on Yoga mong Swamiji’s many contributions to global spiritu... more 214 Swamiji’s Distinctive Perspective on Yoga mong Swamiji’s many contributions to global spirituality, some of the most important, and also the least understood, are his contributions to the discourse of yoga: that is, to the understanding of what, precisely, yoga is, its aim and purpose, and the methods that it involves. There are, of course, many interpretations of yoga, as well as many types of yoga. Indeed, the same thing can be said of yoga that Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi once said of religion: ‘In reality, there are as many religions as there are individuals.’1 Similarly, there are as many yogas as there are individuals. The intent of this essay is not to claim that Swamiji’s approach to the nature of yoga is the only correct approach; nor, in claiming that his approach is distinctive; the intent is to state that this approach is entirely unique, and that important aspects of it are not also shared by other major thinkers on yoga. Many Paths to One Goal: Swami Vivekananda’s C...

Hinduism and Tribal Religions

Models of God and Alternative Ultimate Realities, 2012

This paper will present an overview of a Hindu process theology. The specific problem it will add... more This paper will present an overview of a Hindu process theology. The specific problem it will address, utilizing this theological model, is whether there is only one ultimate reality, or more than one. A source of recent controversy among process thinkers is the approach to religious pluralism that has been developed by John Cobb and David Ray Griffin. This approach operates with the idea that there is more than one ultimate reality. But does this not contradict the very notion of what an ultimate reality is? Or do Cobb and Griffin use an understanding of the term ultimate different from conventional understandings? This paper will suggest that Cobb’s and Griffin’s basic thesis can be preserved with the idea of a single, but internally complex, ultimate reality, and that this concept is available from within the Vedānta tradition.

Religions, 2020

This essay will pose and seek to answer the following question: If, as Swami Vivekananda claims, ... more This essay will pose and seek to answer the following question: If, as Swami Vivekananda claims, the four yogas are independent and equally effective paths to God-realization and liberation from the cycle of rebirth, then what must reality be like? What ontology is implied by the claim that the four yogas are all equally effective paths to the supreme goal of religious life? What metaphysical conditions would enable this pluralistic assertion to be true? Swami Vivekananda’s worldview is frequently identified with Advaita Vedānta. We shall see that Vivekananda’s teaching is certainly Advaitic in what could be called a broad sense. As Anantanand Rambachan and others, however, have pointed out, it would be incorrect to identify Swami Vivekananda’s teachings in any rigid or dogmatic sense with the classical Advaita Vedānta of Śaṅkara; this is because Vivekananda’s teaching departs from that of Śaṅkara in some significant ways, not least in his assertion of the independent salvific efficacy of the four yogas. This essay will argue that Swami Vivekananda’s pluralism, based on the concept of the four yogas, is far more akin to the deep religious pluralism that is advocated by contemporary philosophers of religion in the Whiteheadian tradition of process thought like David Ray Griffin and John Cobb, the classical Jain doctrines of relativity (anekāntavāda, nayavāda, and syādvāda), and, most especially, the Vijñāna Vedānta of Vivekananda’s guru, Sri Ramakrishna, than any of these approaches is to the Advaita Vedānta of Śaṅkara. Advaita Vedānta, in Vivekananda’s pluralistic worldview, becomes one valid conceptual matrix among many that bear the ability to support an efficacious path to liberation. This essay is intended not as an historical reconstruction of Vivekananda’s thought, so much as a constructive philosophical contribution to the ongoing scholarly conversations about both religious (and, more broadly, worldview) pluralism and the religious and philosophical legacies of both Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda. The former conversation has arrived at something of an impasse (as recounted by Kenneth Rose), while the latter conversation has recently been revived, thanks to the work of Swami Medhananda (formerly Ayon Maharaj) and Arpita Mitra.

Religions, 2019

The pluralistic turn in modern Hindu thought corresponds with the rise of an emphasis on direct e... more The pluralistic turn in modern Hindu thought corresponds with the rise of an emphasis on direct experience of divine realities in this tradition. Both pluralism and a focus on experience have precedents in premodern Hindu traditions, but have become especially prominent in modern Hinduism. The paradigmatic example in the modern period of a religious subject embarking upon a pluralistic quest for direct experience of ultimate reality as mediated through multiple religious traditions is the nineteenth century Bengali sage, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa (1836-1886), whose most famous disciple, Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) played a prominent role in the promotion of the idea of Hinduism as largely defined by a religious pluralism paired with an emphasis on direct experience. The focus in the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda on Brahman as a universal reality available, at least in principle, to being experienced by anyone, and interpreted using the categories of the experiencing subject's religion or culture, gives rise to a corresponding pluralism: a move towards seeing many religions and philosophies as conducive to the experience of a shared ultimate reality. This paper will analyze the theme of experience in the thought of these two figures, and other figures who are representative of this broad trend in modern Hindu thought, as well as in conversation with recent academic philosophers and theorists of religious experience, John Hick and William Alston. It will also argue that aspects of Hinduism, such as pluralism and an emphasis on direct experience, that are often termed as 'Neo-Vedantic' or 'Neo-Hindu' are not simply modern constructs, as these terms seem to suggest, but are reflective of much older trends in Hindu thought that become central themes in the thought of key Hindu figures in the modern period. Finally, it shall be argued that a pluralistic approach to the diversity of religions, and of worldviews more generally, is to be commended as an approach more conducive to human survival than the current global proliferation of ethno-nationalisms.

Parabola, 2019

Essay on Swami Vivekananda's welcome address at the 1893 World Parliament of Religions, previousl... more Essay on Swami Vivekananda's welcome address at the 1893 World Parliament of Religions, previously published in Rose, Ziad, and Hessler, ed., 'Words to Live By: Sacred Sources for Interreligious Engagement.'

Please see link to access article. This chapter gives a broad overview of Hindu responses to Pop... more Please see link to access article. This chapter gives a broad overview of Hindu responses to Pope Francis and contextualizes these responses in terms of Hindu history and theology, specifically in terms of the Hindu history of being on the receiving end of Christian proselytization and the Hindu theology of “many paths to a common goal,” found, for example, in the Ramakrishna tradition of which the author is an adherent. The chapter argues that Hindu responses to Pope Francis are diverse, but typically converge around a theme of “cautious hope” for improved relations between traditions.

A discussion of Aldous Huxley's concept of the perennial philosophy, with a particular focus on t... more A discussion of Aldous Huxley's concept of the perennial philosophy, with a particular focus on the roots of Huxley's thought in the Vedanta tradition of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda.

An overview of responses to the diversity of worldviews, with a special focus on pluralism.

Is religious experience necessarily the product of one specific tradition? The constructivist app... more Is religious experience necessarily the product of one specific tradition? The constructivist approach to religious experience which prevails in the contemporary academy certainly suggests that this is the case. But is this not at odds with the idea of an ultimate reality that exists objectively and independently of what any given group of human beings may think about it? This paper argues that the phenomenon of religious conversion militates against the constructivist account. Please see link for PDF of article.

... In the research that went into this book I have relied heavily upon sources written in Prakri... more ... In the research that went into this book I have relied heavily upon sources written in Prakrit, Sanskrit, Gujarati, and Hindi, and unless otherwise noted all translations from these languages are mine. ... Vocalic r is pronounced in Gujarati as ru, and in Sanskrit as ri. ...

Page 1. Leesa S. Davis Advaita Vedénta and Zen Buddhism II" -I "- l — |--— I De... more Page 1. Leesa S. Davis Advaita Vedénta and Zen Buddhism II" -I "- l — |--— I Deoonstruotive Modes of Spiritual Inquiry Continuum Studies |n Eastern Philosophies .\\ continuum Page 2. Leesa S Davns Advaita Vedénta and ...

Journal of the American Academy of Religion, 2013

The Journal of Hindu Studies, 2012

Page 1. Leesa S. Davis Advaita Vedénta and Zen Buddhism II" -I &quot... more Page 1. Leesa S. Davis Advaita Vedénta and Zen Buddhism II" -I "- l — |--— I Deoonstruotive Modes of Spiritual Inquiry Continuum Studies |n Eastern Philosophies .\\ continuum Page 2. Leesa S Davns Advaita Vedénta and ...

Religious Studies Review, 2013

Politics and Religion, 2014

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Journal of Religion, 2006

Journal of Dharma Studies

Philosophy East and West, Volume 70, No. 4, 2020

Review of Ayon Maharaj's (Swami Medhananda's) groundbreaking work on the philosophy of Sri Ramakr... more Review of Ayon Maharaj's (Swami Medhananda's) groundbreaking work on the philosophy of Sri Ramakrishna.

Journal of Religion, 2019

Review of Lori G. Beaman's 'Deep Equality in an Era of Religious Diversity.' Please see link.

A new collection of essays shows the relevance of Hadot's thought to the study of Buddhism, but a... more A new collection of essays shows the relevance of Hadot's thought to the study of Buddhism, but also enriches the conversation sparked by Hadot's work by drawing upon varied Buddhist examples.

Please see attached link to read entire review. With this audacious and articulate book, journal... more Please see attached link to read entire review.

With this audacious and articulate book, journalist Hindol Sengupta presents an impassioned and most welcome case for Hinduism as an ancient and sophisticated tradition with great relevance for the contemporary world. Noting quite rightly that Hindu traditions are poorly understood not only in the West but often even within India itself, Sengupta first traces his own journey as a Bengali Hindu growing up in Calcutta (today Kolkata), attending a Christian missionary school while also being introduced, through his family, to the Vedanta tradition as taught by Swami Vivekananda. The book is not so much a scholarly presentation of Hinduism, as one might find in an introductory textbook, as it is an invitation to the reader to join the author in his discovery of the tradition of his upbringing.

Review of Yiftach Fehige's edited volume, 'Science and Religion: East and West' (Routledge, 2016)... more Review of Yiftach Fehige's edited volume, 'Science and Religion: East and West' (Routledge, 2016), published in Isis, a journal of the University of Chicago Press.

Review of a recent re-issue of Raimon Panikkar's The Vedic Experience: Mantramañjari.

Review of Sherry Fohr's Jainism: A Guide for the Perplexed (Bloomsbury, 2015–Review published in ... more Review of Sherry Fohr's Jainism: A Guide for the Perplexed (Bloomsbury, 2015–Review published in 2016).

Link to a review of Joyce Burkhalter Flueckiger's 'Everyday Hinduism' in the American Academy of ... more Link to a review of Joyce Burkhalter Flueckiger's 'Everyday Hinduism' in the American Academy of Religion's 'Reading Religion' site.

Talk presented at the Vedanta Society of New York, December 8, 2024

Discussion of common misunderstandings of Hinduism in both popular culture and academia in the We... more Discussion of common misunderstandings of Hinduism in both popular culture and academia in the Western world, particularly the US. Please see link.

A discussion of the influences of Vedanta, and in particular, of the thought of Swami Vivekananda... more A discussion of the influences of Vedanta, and in particular, of the thought of Swami Vivekananda, on the thought of Mohandas K. Gandhi, presented at the Vedanta Society of New York on October 20, 2019–the month of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Presentation on the importance of the concept of ahiṃsā to world peace.

Reflections delivered at the United Nations on August 2, 2019, at an event to commemorate the twe... more Reflections delivered at the United Nations on August 2, 2019, at an event to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the UN Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace.

A Sunday lecture for the Vedanta Society of New York exploring similarities and differences betwe... more A Sunday lecture for the Vedanta Society of New York exploring similarities and differences between Jain philosophy and Vedānta, and emphasizing the pluralism of the Jain anekānta doctrine and the approach of Sri Ramakrishna.

Wide ranging conversation including Hinduism, Indian philosophy, Tulsi Gabbard, and theories of t... more Wide ranging conversation including Hinduism, Indian philosophy, Tulsi Gabbard, and theories of the origins of Hinduism.

Conversation about reincarnation, focused on my edited volume, 'Perspectives on Reincarnation: Hi... more Conversation about reincarnation, focused on my edited volume, 'Perspectives on Reincarnation: Hindu, Christian, and Scientific.'

An exploration of the idea of the avatar, overviewing Sri Aurobindo's thought on the Daśāvatāra, ... more An exploration of the idea of the avatar, overviewing Sri Aurobindo's thought on the Daśāvatāra, and then reflecting on Buddha, Christ, and Sri Ramakrishna as embodiments of the avatar ideal.

Talk on Vedantic themes in Star Wars. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V5mp\_yVe1E

Re-imagining religion, Hinduism, and spiritual pluralism.

Discussion of a range of issues, including Hindu identity and religious pluralism.

Talk delivered on the occasion of Phalaharini Kali Puja, May 17, 2015, at the Ramakrishna Vedanta... more Talk delivered on the occasion of Phalaharini Kali Puja, May 17, 2015, at the Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of Boston, on the theme of the Divine Mother.

Blog for the Taylor and Francis website related to my co-edited volume, Nonviolence in the World'... more Blog for the Taylor and Francis website related to my co-edited volume, Nonviolence in the World's Religions: A Concise Introduction.

The Edition, 2019

A short piece on Swami Vivekananda's teaching of universal acceptance.

Medium.com, 2019

Blog critiquing attacks on Tulsi Gabbard that are based on an allegation that her Hindu self-iden... more Blog critiquing attacks on Tulsi Gabbard that are based on an allegation that her Hindu self-identity is inauthentic.

Brief discussion of the basis for Hindu reactions to an Australian ad depicting Ganesha (and deit... more Brief discussion of the basis for Hindu reactions to an Australian ad depicting Ganesha (and deities from various religions) eating lamb.

Part one of a two-part series on the roles of George Harrison and George Lucas, respectively, in ... more Part one of a two-part series on the roles of George Harrison and George Lucas, respectively, in the process of the incorporation of Hindu themes into Western popular culture.

Announcement of the upcoming conference on Hindu theology and sustainability issues at GTU, Berke... more Announcement of the upcoming conference on Hindu theology and sustainability issues at GTU, Berkeley.

Letter to CNN President Jeffrey Zucker Objecting to Misrepresentation of Hinduism in Reza Aslan's... more Letter to CNN President Jeffrey Zucker Objecting to Misrepresentation of Hinduism in Reza Aslan's 'Believer' (March 2017)

Second installment in an autobiographical blog series.

First installment in an autobiographical blog series.

There has been a good deal of discussion recently in Indian online discussion forums and in the m... more There has been a good deal of discussion recently in Indian online discussion forums and in the media more broadly about the theme of tolerance and intolerance. As an outside American bystander, I will not comment here on the particulars of any of the various controversies connected with this topic-the pronouncements of actors or literary figures returning awards in protest, or their various critics. I am sure that everyone involved, on all sides, feels justified in the things they have said and done. They are all quite capable of speaking for themselves.

A brief summary of Sri Ramakrishna's and Swami Vivekananda's contributions to the rise of the int... more A brief summary of Sri Ramakrishna's and Swami Vivekananda's contributions to the rise of the interfaith movement. (See link.)

Correction to a paragraph in my article "Reflections on the Buddha: Historical and Philosophical,... more Correction to a paragraph in my article "Reflections on the Buddha: Historical and Philosophical, Part 1," with my gratitude to Jayarava Atwood for pointing out the error.

Autobiographical account of the author's first encounter with the Bhagavad Gita

Argument for the integrity of Hinduism and for Hindu traditions as a model for a global religious... more Argument for the integrity of Hinduism and for Hindu traditions as a model for a global religious pluralism (summary of the argument of the author's A Vision for Hinduism)

An overview of the "six systems" of Hindu philosophy

Vikram Zutshi interviews Dr. Jeffery D. Long on Dharma, Religion, and Politics

An exploration of the epistemological issues involved with the issue of rebirth

A series of ruminations on the historical foundations of Buddhism and their philosophical implica... more A series of ruminations on the historical foundations of Buddhism and their philosophical implications.

Reflections on the relationship between the Buddhist teaching of No Self and the Vedantic teachin... more Reflections on the relationship between the Buddhist teaching of No Self and the Vedantic teaching of Self.

Outline of a strategy for arguing for a traditionalist approach to yoga.

An interview for Sutra Journal with Asko Parpola

Part three in a series of reflections on Buddhism in relation to Vedānta. This concluding part f... more Part three in a series of reflections on Buddhism in relation to Vedānta. This concluding part focuses on Buddhism in Japan.

Introduction to passages from the Upanishads in Mysticism and the Spiritual Quest: A Cross-cultur... more Introduction to passages from the Upanishads in Mysticism and the Spiritual Quest: A Cross-cultural Anthology, edited by Phyllis Zagano (2013, Palest Press).

Introduction to selection from Katha Upanishad in Mysticism and the Spiritual Quest: A Cross-cult... more Introduction to selection from Katha Upanishad in Mysticism and the Spiritual Quest: A Cross-cultural Anthology, Phyllis Zagano, ed. (2013, Palest Press).

Introduction to a selection from the Mundaka Upanishad included in Mysticism and Spiritual Quest:... more Introduction to a selection from the Mundaka Upanishad included in Mysticism and Spiritual Quest: A Cross-cultural Anthology, Phyllis Zagano, ed. (2013, Paulist Press).

Introduction to selections from the Chandogya Upanishad included in Mysticism and the Spiritual Q... more Introduction to selections from the Chandogya Upanishad included in Mysticism and the Spiritual Quest: A Cross-Cultural Anthology, Phyllis Zagano, ed. (2013, Paulist Press).

Introduction to selections from the Yoga Sutras included in Mysticism and the Spiritual Quest: A ... more Introduction to selections from the Yoga Sutras included in Mysticism and the Spiritual Quest: A Cross-cultural Anthology, Phyllis Zagano, ed. (2013, Paulist Press)

Introduction to a selection from Swami Prabhavananda's translation of Patañjali's Yoga Sutras inc... more Introduction to a selection from Swami Prabhavananda's translation of Patañjali's Yoga Sutras included in Mysticism and the Spiritual Quest: A Cross-cultural Anthology, Phyllis Zagano, ed. (2013, Paulist Press).

Introduction to selections from the Bhagavad Gita included in Mysticism and the Spiritual Questio... more Introduction to selections from the Bhagavad Gita included in Mysticism and the Spiritual Question: A Cross-cultural Anthology, Phyllis Zagano, ed. (2013, Paulist Press)

Introduction to a selection from the Bhagavad Gita included in Mysticism and the Spiritual Quest:... more Introduction to a selection from the Bhagavad Gita included in Mysticism and the Spiritual Quest: A Cross-cultural Anthology, Phyllis Zagano, ed. (2013, Paulist Press).

Introduction to a selection from the Bhagavad Gita included in Mysticism and the Spiritual Quest:... more Introduction to a selection from the Bhagavad Gita included in Mysticism and the Spiritual Quest: A Cross-cultural Anthology, Phyllis Zagano, ed. (2013, Paulist Press).

Introduction to selection from Śaṅkara's commentary on the Brahma Sutras included in Mysticism an... more Introduction to selection from Śaṅkara's commentary on the Brahma Sutras included in Mysticism and the Spiritual Quest: A Cross-cultural Anthology, Phyllis Zagano, ed. (2013, Paulist Press).

Introduction to selections from the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) included in Mysticism and the Spirit... more Introduction to selections from the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) included in Mysticism and the Spiritual Quest: A Cross-cultural Anthology, Phyllis Zagano, ed. (2013, Paulist Press).

Introduction to selections from Chuang Tzu (Zhuangzi) included in Mysticism and the Spiritual Que... more Introduction to selections from Chuang Tzu (Zhuangzi) included in Mysticism and the Spiritual Quest: A Cross-cultural Anthology, Phyllis Zagano, ed. (2013, Paulist Press).

Draft of a paper arguing that each of us actually has a singular religious commitment, to our spe... more Draft of a paper arguing that each of us actually has a singular religious commitment, to our specific worldview, even if this is expressed in terms of multiple religious participation or belonging. It is a defense of Mohandas K. Gandhi's thesis that, "In reality, there are as many religions as there are individuals."

Reflections on correspondences between various aspects of Hindu thought and the process philosoph... more Reflections on correspondences between various aspects of Hindu thought and the process philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead.

Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion, November 2016.

Paper presented at Theology without Walls panel at the 2016 annual meeting of the American Academ... more Paper presented at Theology without Walls panel at the 2016 annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion.

Paper presented at the annual meeting of DANAM (Dharma Academy of North America), held at the 201... more Paper presented at the annual meeting of DANAM (Dharma Academy of North America), held at the 2016 meeting of the American Academy of Religion.

Paper read at the annual conference of DANAM (Dharma Academy of North America) at the 2016 annual... more Paper read at the annual conference of DANAM (Dharma Academy of North America) at the 2016 annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion in San Antonio, Texas.

Call for papers American Journal of Indic Studies ISSN 2573-2145 (Print) ISSN 2573-19... more Call for papers
American Journal of Indic Studies
ISSN 2573-2145 (Print) ISSN 2573-1939 (Online)
Submissions open for the Inaugural Issue Volume 1 No 1

American Journal of Indic Studies (AJIS) is a peer-reviewed journal published by the American Academy of Indic Studies (AAIS).

AJIS invites academic papers on all aspects of Indic studies broadly defined (please check https://aaindicstudies.org/publication/) and their academic study and analysis in the world, for publication in Volume 1 Number 1, and its subsequent issues.

AJIS publishes papers that call attention to the meanings and applications of Indic categories, which have typically been under-represented in the academic study of Indic civilization, to analyze specific theoretical and methodological issues within Indic studies across academic disciplines. AJIS also welcomes papers that place Indic categories and explanatory models in conversation with western theoretical and methodological models in order to deepen and expand scholarly knowledge of Indic civilization. Interactions and relationship of western and non-western studies on Indic history, culture, and traditions are also considered for publication in this issue of the journal.

Papers on all aspects of Indic Studies, and their interdisciplinary studies in any of the following disciplines of Anthropology, Archaeology, Diaspora Indic Studies, Ethical Thought, Ecological & Environmental Studies, History & Culture, Human Geography, India-America relations, Indic Elements & Hindu-Buddhist relations in Asia, Language & Linguistics, Media Studies, Philosophy, Politics & Public Administration, Religious Studies, Social Work, Sociology, and Gender Studies will be considered for publication.

American Journal of Indic Studies publishes original papers, reflection papers, theoretical & conceptual frameworks, analytical & empirical research, applied research & field notes, and book & film reviews.

Date of Publishing: AJIS is inviting papers for Vol. 1 No. 1 scheduled to be published in Winter 2017.
Submission deadline: August 28, 2017.

Contributions for subsequent volumes will be accepted on a rolling basis and considered on a first-come-first-serve basis for the next available upcoming volume. Please include brief bio and a short CV with your submission.

Send your manuscript and questions to the editor Dr. Lavanya Vemsani at: editor@AAIndicStudies.org

Dr. Lavanya Vemsani
Editor-in-Chief, American Journal of Indic Studies https://aaindicstudies.org/publication/
Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Shawnee State University

The topic of reincarnation, or rebirth, is an intensely interesting one. Popular response to rece... more The topic of reincarnation, or rebirth, is an intensely interesting one. Popular response to recent sessions held on this topic at the American Academy of Religion’s annual meetings (including a standing-room-only session held by the Society for Hindu–Christian Studies at the 2015 meeting, as well as sessions at the 2016 DANAM meeting) demonstrate that this is an issue of special interest to those whose focus is either Hindu–Christian relations or issues relating to religion and science (or both).

No recent publications, however, have dealt extensively with this issue in an interdisciplinary fashion that draws upon the multiple perspectives from which it can be approached. The purpose of this special issue is to fill this gap, bringing together perspectives from religious studies, philosophy, theology, and the sciences (specifically, psychology and physics) to address the question: Is there such a phenomenon as rebirth? Why or why not? How might one go about knowing whether such a phenomenon is a reality? What historical perspectives, specifically from Hindu and Christian traditions, can be brought to bear upon this question? And what, if anything, can science potentially contribute to what has traditionally been a religious and philosophical question? The aim here is to advance mutual understanding among those who hold differing views on this topic, as well as, potentially, advancing understanding of the topic itself.

Dr. Jeffery D. Long
Guest Editor

Submission

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. Papers will be published continuously (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are refereed through a peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed Open Access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There will be no processing charge for submissions to this special issue. Please disregard all references to a fee in the MDPI website.

Keywords
reincarnation
rebirth
Hindu-Christian dialogue
Hinduism
Christianity
parapsychology
science and religion

Encyclopedia of Scientific Dating Methods, 2017

Encyclopedia of Indian Religions, 2017

Encyclopedia of Indian Religions, 2017