NEH Seminar on Asceticism and Renunciation

[selindqu at midway.uchicago.edu]

Subject: NEH Seminar on Asceticism and Renunciation

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Steven E. Lindquist
Dept. of S. Asian Lang. & Civ.
NEH Program Assistant
University of Chicago
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Asceticism, Religion and Civilization in South Asia: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism

National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Seminar for College Teachers

Professor Steven Collins, Director
24 June 1996 - 16 August 1996
University of Chicago

        This 8-week seminar will explore asceticism as a phenomenon in  the
history and comparison of civilizations.  Not all civilizations have given
a place to ascetic values and practices: among those which have, none has
done so more clearly than the South Asian.  Ascetics reject the basic
requirements of society: production and reproduction, providing the food
and children necessary for any continuing collectivity.  In what sense can
asceticism be of value to the majority of members, male and/or female, of
any society?  The meetings will examine classical texts from the three
religions, as well as modern secondary sources and documentary films,
intending to offer a creative environment for the individual research
projects of participants, who may be either South Asia specialists or other
interested scholars.

        Participants receive a stipend of $4000.  The application deadline
is 1 March 1996.  Notification date is 29 March 1996.  Applicants cannot be
enrolled graduate students and cannot be from institutions which grant a
graduate degree in a field related to the above topic (South Asian Studies,
etc.).  Please contact via email for fastest response (information can be
emailed and an application can be sent via regular mail).

For Information and Applications, contract:
Professor Steven Collins
Dept. of South Asian Languages and Civilizations
University of Chicago
Foster Hall, 1130 E.59th.
Chicago IL 60637
[email: selindqu at rainbow.uchicago.edu]