Karma has become a household word in the modern world, where it is associated with the belief in rebirth determined by one’s deeds in earlier lives. This belief was and is widespread in the Indian subcontinent as is the word “karma” itself. In lucid and accessible prose, this book presents karma in its historical, cultural, and religious context.
Initially, karma manifested itself in a number of religious movements—most notably Jainism and Buddhism—and was subsequently absorbed into Brahmanism in spite of opposition until the end of the first millennium C.E. Philosophers of all three traditions were confronted with the challenge of explaining by what process rebirth and karmic retribution take place. Some took the drastic step of accepting the participation of a supreme god who acted as a cosmic accountant, others of opting for radical idealism. The doctrine of karma was confronted with alternative explanations of human destiny, among them the belief in the transfer of merit. It also had to accommodate itself to devotional movements that exerted a major influence on Indian religions.
The book concludes with some general reflections on the significance of rebirth and karmic retribution, drawing attention to similarities between early Christian and Indian ascetical practices and philosophical notions that in India draw their inspiration from the doctrine of karma.
目次
[Table of Contents]
Special Topics p.vii-vii Editor’s Preface p.ix-xiv Preface p.xv-xvii Introduction p.xix-xxi
Part I: Orthodox Karma p.1-1 Chapter 1: Origins and Religious Use p.3-6 Chapter 2: Karma in and after Greater Magadha Jainism - Ajivikism - Knowledge of the Self - Buddhism p.7-32 Chapter 3: Karma in Brahmanism Absence in Vedic Literature - Brahmanical Resistance - Absorption into Brahmanism p.33-54 Chapter 4: Karma and Philosophy Karma and Buddhist Philosophy - Karma and the Brahmanical Philosophies - The Theoretical Appropriation of Karma in Jainism - Theoretical Difficulties and Their Solutions p.55-88
Part II: Variants of Karma p.89-89 Chapter 5: Transfer of Merit p.91-96 Chapter 6: Competitors of Karma p.97-103 Chapter 7: From One Life to the Next Jainism - Buddhism - The Brahmanical Tradition p.104-110 Chapter 8: Devotion p.111-116
Concluding Comments Developments Outside the Indian Subcontinent - What Does It All Mean? p.117-122 Further Reading p.123-126 Index p.127-129
