A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON ASCETICISM IN BUDDHISM AND ISLAM PDF Download

Author: SAVAŞ KARABULUT
Publisher: SAVAŞ KARABULUT
ISBN:
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 180

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Book Description
The principal objective of this book is to understand ascetic practices in Islam and Buddhism by examining the religious motives and beliefs that lead to them. It also attempts to demonstrate how important realizing the diversity in the purposes of ascetic practices is, especially in regards to understanding belief systems and in making reliable and objective comparative studies in the field of religious studies. Religious beliefs in different traditions display a considerable complexity in their social, historical, and canonical backgrounds. This is what makes one religion different from another. This complexity presents a particular problem in comparative studies because of the lack of a mutual conceptual base which would enable us to make reliable comparative studies between theistic and non-theistic religions. However, we have tried to solve this problem by examining each belief system in terms of its own concepts and in its respective tradition. I believe that studying an idea or religion in terms of its own framework of references is an indispensable method. There may be some similarities in methodology but at the same time some differences in relation to their different points of view regarding value systems. The practices that constitute Islamic asceticism and the meanings of these actions in Islam differ radically from those of Buddhism. Islam does not consider certain natural human feelings such as sensual desires, jealousy, anger and so on to be unconditionally negative, since according to Islam all these feelings and emotions serve a purpose. Being good or bad depends on how those feelings and desires are employed. Therefore, while Islam allows Muslims to satisfy these feelings within divine limits, Buddhism does not allow for their complete satisfaction. In both ascetic traditions the cultivation of free will is one of the most important elements of self-discipline. A characteristic difference between Islam and Buddhism is that while Buddhism places great stress upon the mind, Islam does not. Being moderate in actions and ascetic practices is a very important principle in both traditions. In this respect, Buddhism is similar to Islam in terms of eating practices. The most important ascetic practice and one of the most important principles of self-restraint in Islamic life, and also a main pillar of Islam, is fasting. However, it must be borne in mind that complete fasting as in Islam seems to be an excessive form of self-restraint in the eyes of Buddhists. In Buddhism, there are a few practical differences between lay people and monks; in Islam, however, everybody must fast in the same way whether he is a prophet or saint or an ordinary Muslim. In addition to this, unlike Buddhism, Islam approves of neither monasticism, nor a caste system. One of the most similar practices in both traditions is not consuming intoxicants. Islam and Buddhism have very similar attitudes to intoxicants and all kinds of alcoholic drinks. In addition to this Islam differs from Buddhism in its point of view on celibacy. Celibacy is practically forbidden in Islam if somebody has no reasonable excuse for it. In particular, according to the early Buddhist texts, celibacy is the highest conduct of life. There is a marked difference here with Islam. However, both Buddhism and Islam make a similar point of protecting their followers from fornication by recommending or commanding them to shut the doors of sense organs and to avoid sexual misconduct. There may be some similarities between religious traditions whether they are theistic or non-theistic. These similarities cannot be a means of objectively evaluating their religious understandings or religious purposes. The best and most reliable way to understand ascetic practices is to study these practices separately, according to the historical and geographical facts of each religion, paying particular attention to their essential teachings and beliefs.