[INDOLOGY] Early Asceticism in India. Ājīvikism and Jainism (Publication Announcement)

[Piotr Balcerowicz]

Dear List Members,

I would like to announce the publication of the following book: 

Balcerowicz, Piotr: 
Early Asceticism in India. Ājīvikism and Jainism. 
(Routledge Advances in Jaina Studies) 
Routledge / Taylor & Francis Group, London–New York 2016.
ISBN: 9781138847132
ISBN-10: 1138847135

More info: https://www.routledge.com/products/9781138847132

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ABOUT THE BOOK

Ājīvikism was once ranked one of the most important religions in India between the 4th and 2nd centuries BCE, after Buddhism, ‘Brahmanism’ and before Jainism, but is now a forgotten Indian religion. However, Jainism has remained an integral part of the religious landscape of South Asia, despite the common beginnings shared with Ājīvikism.
By rediscovering, reconstructing, and examining the Ājīvikism doctrine, its art, origins and development, this book provides new insight into Ājīvikism, and discusses how this information enables us to better understand its impact on Jainism and its role in the development of Indian religion and philosophy. This book explains how, why and when Jainism developed its strikingly unique logic and epistemology and what historical and doctrinal factors prompted the ideas which later led to the formulation of the doctrine of multiplexity of reality (anekānta-vāda). It also provides answers to difficult passages of Buddhist Sāmañña-phala-sutta that baffled both Buddhist commentators and modern researchers.
Offering clearer perspectives on the origins of Jainism the book will be an invaluable contribution to Jaina Studies, Asian Religion and Religious History.

CONTENTS 
1. Introduction 
2. The Encounter 
3. Gośāla as a ‘Jaina’ Teacher 
4. Souls and Colours 
5. Divination and Foretelling the Future 
6. Common Set of Early Scriptures 
7. Common Cosmology 
8. Gośāla’s First Teaching and Vardhamāna’s First Ascetic Experiences 
9. The Finalities, Death and Sallekhanā 
10. Drinkables, Undrinkables and the Waters of the Sāmañña-phala-sutta 
11. Ājīvikas, Pottery and Pots 
12. Determinism, Ājīvikas and Jainism 
13. Early Anekānta-vāda and the Three Figures 
14. Ājīvikas, Trairāśikas, Jainas 
15. The Beginnings of the Sapta-bhaṅgī 
16. Early Epistemological Devices and the Beginnings of Jaina Logic 
17. The Anekānta-vāda and the Ājīvikas 
18. Traces of the Anekānta in Pali Buddhist Literature? 
19. A Religious Centre and the Art of the Ājīvikas 
20. Three Traditions: Pārśva, Gośāla, Mahāvīra
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Best regards,
Piotr Balcerowicz
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www.orient.uw.edu.pl/balcerowicz