The essays explore Sufism as it developed in the Indian subcontinent; including translations of previously unavailable texts; and revealing unexpected insights into the lives; practices; and teachings of Indian Muslims over nearly a thousand years. They also trace remarkable moments in the history of Muslim engagement with Indian religious and cultural practices. This includes not only Muslim participation in Indian art and literature; but also the extraordinary role that Sufis have played in the practice of yoga. Employing new approaches to religious studies that avoid essentialism and ideological concepts of religion; and shorn of unnecessary jargon; these compelling essays will be easily accessible to a larger audience.
#6596109 in Books 2010-11-19Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.40 x 1.00 x 6.30l; .0 #File Name: 9004181598371 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Well in details and clear in overviewBy H. G. PosthumaI read the book on behalf of my manuscript about the possibility of Indian and especially Buddhist elements in early Christianity; which have no roots in Judaism; Christianity and Classical Antiquity; but do have a long history in India and Buddhism. To enhance the historical plausibility I had written a paragraph about the connections between the Roman Empire and the Indian subcontinent; partly based on Ninian Smart; Atlas of the World's Religions; 1999.Compared to Mr Smart's Atlas; Jason Neelis' book provides all the details behind the maps and descriptions of Smart. Early Buddhist Transmission etc. is a critical survey of existing archaeological finds; written sources and other material related to the spread of Buddhism within India and beyond the borderlands of South Asia between 500 BCE and 1000 CE. It is also a re-evaluation of two theories by the Dutch Sinologist Erik Zürcher: spread by diffusion or by long-distance transmission. Not surprisingly; Mr Neelis comes to accept both theories as complementary. Although the research area is restricted to old India and China; and although the number of pages about the trade between the Roman Empire and India is small; the book provided me with more additional material to support my plea than I had expected.So the book is rich in details; and thorough (as far as I am able to see); and yet clear in the main lines; thanks also to summaries. The value for me was in the details; the overview; and the combined theory. Although the presentation is dry; five stars. Concerning the costs; the publisher apparently thinks we all benefitted from the financial and economic crisis. For some 350 pages and many misprints; the price is all but a recommendation for the spread of knowledge in these critical times.
