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This study aims to look at how organizational commitment in private tertiary institutions in Central Kalimantan affects lecturer performance in relation to servant leadership. Based on the empirical phenomena, many professor careers were found to be static at particular levels; the Tri Dharma's subpar performance served as an indicator of this. An explanatory quantitative method for causality is used in this work to describe the link between exogenous and endogenous factors. In Central Kalimantan, 232 qualified lecturers served as the research population. The direct and indirect impacts of the factors under study were examined utilizing the SEM Amos analytic approach. The study's findings suggest that professor performance is not directly impacted by servant leadership. These findings suggest that the impact of servant leadership on lecturer performance might be totally mediated by organizational commitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online Mandarin language education, still in its nascent stages, faces several challenges. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of the WordWall platform in enhancing the academic performance of beginner Mandarin language learners enrolled in the comprehensive Mandarin online course at the Language Institute of Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta. The study employed a one-group pretest-posttest design, measuring student performance before and after exposure to WordWAll platform. The findings indicate that the platform significantly contributes to improving students' academic performance in learning the Mandarin language. Consequently, it can be concluded that the word-based learning platform serves as an engaging and interactive educational tool that effectively improves students' educational performance in Mandarin language learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the mid-seventeenth century, Chinese Chan master Yinyuan Longqi 隱元隆琦 (Jp. Ingen Ryūki, 1592–1673), accompanied by several disciples, traveled to Japan and established Ōbaku Zen, a new sect of Zen Buddhism in Tokugawa Japan. Ōbaku art, particularly portrait paintings of Ōbaku abbots and their spiritual predecessors, became critical representations of the sect and greatly influenced later Japanese Buddhist art. While much of the existing scholarship focuses on the artistic and stylistic aspects of Ōbaku portraiture, this paper emphasizes its religious context and doctrinal dimensions. Building on Elizabeth Horton Sharf's inquiry into the "meaning and function" of Ōbaku portrait painting, the paper investigates how Ōbaku doctrine is expressed through these images. Using the Triptych of Three Zen Masters: Linji, Bodhidharma, and Deshan as a case study, this paper explores the role of portraiture in visually conveying Ōbaku teachings and the religious aspirations of those Chinese immigrant monks. By examining the integration of image, inscription, and seal as a unified "pictorial trinity", the paper argues that Ōbaku portraiture embodies the sect's distinct doctrine, rooted in Ming-era Chan practices such as beating, shouting, and strict dharma transmission. Moreover, the prominence of Bodhidharma in Ōbaku portraits, as illustrated in the triptych, reflects these Chinese immigrant monks' desire to emulate Bodhidharma in spreading the dharma and expanding their sect's influence in a new land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout the centuries, Jaina authors actively engaged in producing their own versions of stories that were told in sources such as the Rāmāyaṇa, Mahābhārata, and the purāṇas. These authors self-consciously present themselves as correcting preceding narratives that they do not accept as credible. However, the question arises: what criteria determine the credibility of one version over another? This paper offers one possible answer as it appears in the Investigation of Dharma (Dharmaparīkṣā), a Jaina narrative that has been retold repeatedly in different languages throughout the second millennium. By examining its earliest available retellings—in Apabhramsha (988 CE) and Sanskrit (1014 CE)—I argue that this narrative traces the credibility of stories to the ideas of (1) coherence across textual boundaries and (2) correspondence with real-life experience. In this paper, I trace how these notions manifest in the Investigation and analyze the narrative's mechanism for training its audience to evaluate for themselves the credibility of stories. Through this analysis, the paper offers a fresh perspective on the motivations of premodern South Asian authors to retell existing narratives and sheds light on the reading practices they expect from their audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Huayansi 華嚴寺, situated at the frontier stronghold of the Liao Dynasty in the Western Capital, is a significant royal temple that preserves two main halls from the Liao and Jin Dynasties to this day. Through a systematic examination of the Liaoshi 《遼史》 and the related literature, this study offers a novel interpretation of the east–west dual-axial layout of the Huayansi and its historical significance. It further discusses the integral artistic space of the Buddha and the Dharma within the Bhagavata Scriptures Hall 薄伽教藏殿, which shapes the spiritual realm of the Western Pure Land, thereby repositioning and enhancing the historical value of the Bhagavata Scriptures Hall. The article elucidates the political and cultural core elements embedded within the formation of the parallel axes of the Bhagavata Scriptures Hall and the Mahavira Hall, which are closely associated with three pivotal years in the Liao Dynasty: 1038, 1044, and 1062. This not only reflects the grand historical context of the Liao Dynasty's domestic governance and foreign policy during the 10th and 11th centuries but also encapsulates the rich and diverse religious beliefs and cultural traits of the Khitan 契丹 people. The axis space of the Bhagavata Scriptures Hall, constructed earlier during the reign of Xingzong 興宗 to house the Liao Canon 《遼藏》, along with the architectural complex of the Huayansi—named and commissioned by Emperor Daozong 道宗 24 years later—collectively establishes a dual-axial worship space at the Grand Huayansi, sanctified by the triad of the Buddha 佛, the Dharma 法, and the Ancestors 祖. This underscores the Liao Dynasty's political objectives of deterring hostile states and ensuring national security within the framework of Buddhist veneration and ancestor worship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Śrīmadbhagavadgītā is the most influential work on Indian culture, religion and ethics. It offers the essential guidance and profound wisdom not just for the Indian community, but for all the mankind. Mahatma Gandhi is a man of principle. He is profoundly influenced by the ideology of the Gita. He follows the principles of morality revealed in the Gita. The ethical concepts such as-ahiṁsā, satya, brahmacarya etc. are well-explained by Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Gita. However, these concepts are reflected in Gandhiji's thought also. Influenced by the teachings of the Gita, Gandhiji admits that non-violence is the principle of dharma. From, this point of view, it may be said that Gandhiji maintains the moral standards in his life. Therefore, in this paper, influence of ethical ideology of the Gita in Gandhiji's thought would be endeavored to elaborate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Srimad Bhagavad Gita, an ancient Indian scripture, offers timeless wisdom that transcends religious boundaries and provides valuable insights for modern management practices. This study explores the management concepts embedded in the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and their applicability to contemporary organizational leadership, decision-making, and ethical practices. Drawing on key verses, this study examines how principles such as self-discipline, work ethics, leadership, and emotional intelligence can enhance managerial effectiveness. The Gita emphasizes the importance of duty (karma), detachment from outcomes, and the pursuit of a balanced, composed mindset in high-stress environments--concepts highly relevant to modern management challenges. The paper also discusses the integration of spiritual and ethical dimensions in decision-making, as advocated in the Gita, which encourages leaders to act in alignment with dharma (righteousness) while managing resources and people effectively. The scripture's insights into motivation, team management, and conflict resolution provide a framework for leaders to foster a more inclusive and harmonious work culture. By analyzing interpretations from various scholars, this paper seeks to align ancient wisdom with modern managerial theories, exploring how the Gita's philosophical underpinnings can be applied in strategic thinking, leadership development, and personal growth. The study concludes that the Bhagavad Gita offers a holistic approach to management, combining material success with spiritual fulfillment, making it a valuable resource for contemporary leaders aiming to lead with integrity, resilience, and clarity of purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study explores the Hindu tradition's profound connection to sustainable development, emphasizing the importance of harmony with nature, as dictated by the principles of Dharma (duty) and Ahimsā (non-violence). The Hindu tradition, found in sacred texts such as the Vedas and the Bhagavad Git?, underscores humanity's ethical and moral obligation to protect and nurture the environment. Key concepts such as vegetarianism, reverence for all life forms, and eco-conscious rituals are integral to this philosophy, offering practical approaches to modern sustainability. Additionally, the paper examines the global perspective promoted by the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which underscores our interconnectedness with the world. In conclusion, the Hindu tradition provides a valuable perspective on sustainable development, emphasizing the unity of all life and our shared responsibility to safeguard our planet, underscoring the significance of living in harmony with nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zhiyan 智儼 (602–668) is considered the second patriarch of the Chinese Huayan 華嚴 (Jp. Kegon) school. Zhiyan gave his scholarly attention to the Dilun School 地論宗 and Shelun School 攝論宗. By his period, the reunification of the North and South had permitted the Dilun and Shelun lineages to begin to merge, and the texts on which they were based had a common origin in the Indian Yogācāra and Tathāgatagarbha. In this article, I focus on Zhiyan's conceptual innovations and their background. My chief concerns are twofold: the first is to review several terms and teachings as representative examples of the creative practice of Zhiyan and the second is to identify his roots in the earlier traditions of Indian and Chinese Buddhism. I focus on the translation and understanding of the term zhenru 真如 (Skt. tathatā; suchness/thusness), which is a crucial expression used in descriptions of ultimate truth in Buddhism. By investigating the terms through the lens of the Ratnagotravibhāga (=RGV), I consider what tathatā, dhātu and gotra signified in their Indian usage and how these meanings evolved in the process of the appropriation of these concepts in China, especially in Zhiyan's writings. Furthermore, through this analysis, I aim to explore Zhiyan's attitude towards the Jiujing yisheng baoxing lun 究竟一乘寶性論 (=BXL), the Chinese translation of the RGV, and examine how he absorbed and utilized this significant treatise, which was compiled in India and translated in Northern China. We cannot find even one clear interpretation defining suchness as unconditioned dharma in the Dasheng qixin lun 大乘起信論 (=AF; Awakening of Mahāyāna Faith). In the AF, it is stated that suchness is initially pure. However, due to the fumigation of ignorance, the marks and features of defilement will appear on pure suchness. Suchness, being connected with foundation consciousness, has been regarded as the foundation or origin of conditioned arising in the She dasheng lun chao 攝大乘論抄 (T2806), a significant commentary on the She dasheng lun 攝大乘論 translated by Paramārtha 真諦 (499–569), who has been associated with the AF. Building on this trend in the interpretation of suchness, Zhiyan employs both the AF and the BXL to expound his theory of suchness. He initially utilizes the theory of suchness from the AF and the BXL to argue that all phenomena, including delusion, could arise from suchness. Zhiyan asserts the fumigation/perfume of suchness. The background of Zhiyan's theory of suchness is based on the AF. However, while the AF only mentions the fumigation/perfume of suchness, Zhiyan adds that suchness does not inherently maintain its self-nature but arises conditionally. This marks a significant difference, or development, between the theory of suchness in the AF and that in Zhiyan's Huayan doctrinal system. In my view, the answer lies in the BXL, which Zhiyan himself regards as a key text alongside the AF as the basis for his theory of suchness. Zhiyan finds an intimation of the precious truth in the commentaries of Huiguang 慧光, who was a disciple of Ratnamati, the translator of the BXL, and the founder of the southern branch of the Dilun School. Zhiyan finds the doctrine of infinite dependent arising according to the one vehicle of the distinct teaching (Ch. biejiao yisheng 別教一乘) in Huiguang's commentaries. It indicates that the renderings and interpretations of Ratnamati and Huiguang seem to have deeply influenced Zhiyan. For a long time, many scholars have believed that the RGV had only a minimal impact on East Asian Buddhism, and few have pointed out its influence on Zhiyan. However, through the analysis in this article, I find that Zhiyan places significant importance on the RGV and its Chinese translation BXL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Srimanta Sankardeva was a great saint of Assam. Srimanta Sankardeva introduced Neo-Vaishnavism known as Ekk Saran Hari Nam Dharma in Assam. The Neo-Vaishnavite movement, headed by saint Sankardeva is a great socio-cultural revolution in Assam. To propagate Neo-Vaishnavism religion Srimanta Sankardeva created many valuable contributions. Sattra is one of them. Sattras are playing an important role in the preservation and expanding Sattriya dance. Kamalabari Sattra is one of them. Sattriya dance was initiated by Srimanta Sankardeva and later developed within Sattra, so later it has called as Sattriya dance. This paper is an attempt to highlight about the dance numbers of Sattriya dance as practiced in Shri Shri Kamalabari Sattra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lichen moth, Lyclene dharma dharma (Arctiidae, Lithosiinae), plays a significant role in forest ecosystem dynamics. A concise and novel method to synthesize the active sex pheromone components, (S)-14-methyloctadecan-2-one ((S)-1), (S)-6-methyloctadecan-2-one ((S)-2), and their enantiomers has been developed. Key steps in the synthesis include the use of Evans' chiral auxiliaries, Grignard cross-coupling reactions, hydroboration–oxidation, and Wacker oxidation. The synthesized sex pheromone components hold potential value for studies on communication mechanisms, species identification, and ecological management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sacrifice (yajña) is considered to be one of the most mentioned words in the Hindu texts, and Panikkar understands it in relation to the preservation, continuation, and regeneration of the universe in existence. While Panikkar's interpretation of sacrifice focuses mainly on creation, this article extends his arguments to interpret the Hindu apocalypse as a yajña from four major angles, including the end of a kalpa and the concept of declining dharma in the successive yugas, the journey from the cosmological to the transcendental brahman, entire creation being the food of sacrifice, and the apocalypse as a reflection of the yajña. This study incorporates both śruti and smriti texts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article delves into the themes of agency and justice as portrayed in the novels The Undoing Dance by Srividya Natarajan and Desire of the Moth by Champa Bilwakesh, focusing on the experiences of Devadasis, or temple dancers, in colonial and post-colonial South India. Utilising the concept of dharma from Hindu philosophy, this paper examines how the protagonists rise above their marginalised status and assert agency in pursuit of justice through their participation in classical dance. Through this bond, they discover purpose and liberation in their ability to express themselves, as classical dance transcends social hierarchy, discrimination, and injustice. While justice has been a prominent theme in Western literature, there remains a noticeable gap in Indian literature. This exploration thus creates a paradigm shift by shedding light on the empowering aspect vividly expressed through their participation in the classical dance form called Bharatanatyam, which allowed them to rise above their injustices rather than confining them within the societal framework of South India. This nuanced perspective forms the crux of this study, suggesting a more transformative view that highlights the ethical aspects of their battle, creating a sense of agency and justice through their dharma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Dharma Durai/Lord Dharma [Seenu Ramasamy, 2016] makes significant departures from the fundamental tenets of the neo-nativity cinema genre whose moorings, as Sundar Kaali argues in the context of a select study of Tamil films in the late 1970s, are in the phallic injury of the hero and the disciplining of the heroine, phenomena that continue to inform a large number of New Wave blockbusters since 2004. I discuss the subversive tendencies that disrupt the hegemonic narratives of caste and culture in neo-native films such as Dharma Durai as well as in path-breaking predecessors such as Veyil/Sunshine (Vasanta Balan, 2006), Naadodigal/Vagabonds (Samuthirakani, 2009) and Aadukalam/Playground (Vetrimaaran, 2011) in the sphere of romantic narratives. I argue that the "actantial energy/agency" of the village that injures the hero in the Neo Nativity Film in Kaali's thesis (Kaali, Sundar. 2000. "Narrating Seduction: Vicissitudes of the Sexed Subject in Tamil Nativity Film." In Making Meaning in Indian Cinema, edited by Ravi Vasudevan, 168–190. Oxford and New York: Routledge.) is revised in Dharma Durai as the narrative ultimately transfers agency from the rural caste community to the companionate romantic relationship, especially onto the figure of the modern heroine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This entry delves into the origin, sources, and role of the Dharmaśāstra (science of dharma) in the historical and cultural context of ancient India. In contrast to other ancient civilizations (such as the Roman Republic and Empire), ancient Indian society was characterized by the lack of a uniform legal system, having instead multiple legal systems united by a common jurisprudence called Dharmaśāstra. The initial works within this tradition are the Dharmasūtras, four of which are handed down from manuscripts (i.e. the āpastamba-, Gautama-, Baudhāyana-, and Vasiṣṭhadharmasūtra), approximately dated from the third century BCE to the first century CE. These works are written in aphoristic prose (sūtra) and tend to preserve the entire scholarly debate about dharma rather than provide an unambiguous, authoritative version of the issues addressed. Such argumentative modality is innovated by the composition of the Mānavadharmaśāstra, the first Dharmaśāstra or Smṛti to be handed down, approximately dated to the second century CE. This work, written in verse (śloka) and ascribed to a divine figure, imposes its authority in the debate surrounding dharma by taking an assertive stance and eliminating all dissent in most cases. The Mānavadharmaśāstra innovation was then followed by later Smṛtis, of which only four major texts are handed down from manuscripts – the Yājñavalkya-, Nārada-, Viṣṇu-, and Parāśarasmṛti – dated approximately from the late fourth century to the eighth century CE. Following an examination of the genesis of the Dharmaśāstric tradition, connected to the (re-)Brahmanization of the Buddhist concept of dharma, this entry deals with the four dharmamūlas (‘roots of law’) on which the Dharmaśāstra is grounded, i.e. śruti (‘revelation’), smṛti (‘tradition’), ācara (‘conduct’), and ātmatuṣṭi (‘self-satisfaction’ or ‘personal preference’), along with its textual history. Finally, coming to the present day, this entry discusses the role of Dharmaśāstra in the living forms of Hinduism and, specifically, how it has survived in modern Hindu law.

At the heart of many forms of Hinduism is a multiple-layered vision of becoming concentred in the divine reality. Across three millennia of Hindu socioreligious history, various texts, teachers, and traditions have envisioned a world suffused with divine presence within which individuals are engaged in projects of self-negating reformation. Central to many of these images of divine-human alignment is the notion of bhakti, which defies straightforward translation: bhakti encompasses various ontological, experiential, cultural, and sociological dimensions of Hindu worldviews. Thus, bhakti is interwoven with the scriptural cosmologies, ritual practices, affective sensibilities, spiritual disciplines, and material cultures associated with Hindu lineages founded by several paradigmatic gurus. Some of these templates are sketched with Sanskrit philosophical and theological vocabularies; they have also been articulated, especially over the last millennium, with the vernacular idioms of Bengali, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, and others. Bhakti is encountered in diverse socioreligious contexts of Hindu life – as an attitude of self-effacing dedication to an icon (mūrti) of the divine reality (brahman) placed in a massive stone temple or a small household shrine; as an expression of effervescent joyfulness in congregational singing (bhajana) or seasonal festivals of a deity; as the animating force on arduous pilgrimages to sacred sites (tīrtha); as a colloquial way of expressing one’s heartfelt reverence for a teacher; as a transformative vehicle for energizing egalitarian communities, and so on. So, to speak of bhakti is to engage with inquiries into the nature of the human self, the relation between humanity and divinity, the structure of the spatiotemporal world, the goal of human existence, and so on. A comprehensive exploration of bhakti would take an individual through the crisscrossing labyrinths of polycentric patterns of Hinduisms (Lipner 2010) – a lifelong (academic) quest. Given the limited scope of an encyclopaedia entry, this article will focus on some north Indian expressions of bhakti. With the help of this overview as well as its bibliography, the reader will hopefully be able to venture out into terrains of bhakti in other regions.

In the learning process, teacher as an educator is required to design and implement specific teaching methods to improve learning outcomes. This research aims to assess the effectiveness of implementing the hypnoteaching method in enhancing Mandarin language learning activities for students at the Dharma Bunda Kasih Indonesia Foundation. The research method employed is a combination of sequential exploratory methods characterized by its research focus. The findings indicate that the hypnoteaching method can be used by teachers to create an effective and enjoyable learning environment. The effectiveness of this teaching method is demonstrated by the results of the semester II exams in the XI grade at the Dharma Bunda Kasih Indonesia Foundation, where the average score of all students was 87. Additionally, it was known from the average score that students' absorption of learning material was 87%. The calculations shows that the average student scores fall within the 86-100 range in the conversion of learning effectiveness, categorized as 'Very Effective.' Therefore, the data on student learning outcome calculations indicate that the implementation of the hypnoteaching teaching method is effective in improving students' learning activities. Based on T-test analysis, it can be concluded that learning with the hypnoteaching method yields better results compared to direct learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a personal reflection on the establishment of Sikh Dharma and its place in the larger Sikh world. While Sikh Dharma developed unique expressions of Sikh practice and belief, it has increasingly integrated with the larger Punjabi Sikh community. The role of Yogi Bhajan in spreading key principles of Sikh philosophy and practice is examined. I conclude that Bhajan's autocratic and exploitative behaviours distorted Sikh principles. In spite of Bhajan's personal transgressions, Sikh Dharma has embraced the Sikh exultation: Sarbat Ka Bhalla (peace and well-being for all)! [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our panel on Sikh Dharma at Fifty, organized for the May 2023 Sikh studies conference at the University of California-Riverside, allowed me to update what I have previously written on 3HO/Sikh Dharma in light of recent developments affecting the organization. Here I reflect further upon (1) the internal evolution of Sikh Dharma and the self-identities of its followers, (2) the impact of Sikh Dharma – both the organization and its followers – on other Sikhs and Sikhi in North America, and (3) ways in which Sikh studies scholars have written about 3HO/Sikh Dharma positioning for the wider Sikh Panth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 3HO/Sikh Dharma International community has been mired in controversy since 2020. I study this community, focusing on efforts to cultivate and maintain legitimacy when it has been seriously undermined. Analyzing community-wide emails from key organizations within the larger 3HO/SDI community reveals legitimization strategies of community presentation. Specifically, my analysis of community-wide emails reveal an emphasis on portraying diversity, publicizing an interest in racial equity and DEI more generally, and linking Sikh practice in 3HO/SDI with Sikhs and Sikh practice in India. I find that, given their crisis of legitimacy, 3HO/SDI must adapt its community presentation and practices to survive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"The Road to Nusantara: Process, Challenges, and Opportunities" is a book that explores the process of building Indonesia's future national capital, known as Nusantara. The book, edited by Julia M. Lau, Athiqah Nur Alami, Siwage Dharma Negara, and Yanuar Nugroho, offers information, critiques, and recommendations for the project. It discusses various topics such as governance, economics, finance, law, planning, security, environment justice, and human rights. The book provides a comprehensive collection of academic writing and research findings, making it a valuable resource for researchers and students interested in city-building in Southeast Asia. [Extracted from the article]

This exploration addresses some aspects of Zoroastrianism, examining how the ancient Persian belief system aligns with the dynamic and indeterminate principles of Fuzzy, Neutrosophic, and MultiAlist systems. Zoroastrianism, rooted in the eternal struggle between good and evil, light and darkness, exhibits parallels with Neutrosophy's acknowledgment of indeterminacy, incompleteness, and the dynamic interplay of opposites. The prophet Zarathustra's vision of a neutrosophic God challenges conventional notions of divine attributes, emphasizing a dynamic and evolving universe. Before investigating these vague areas, the concept of unclear conceptual borders is explored, emphasizing the indeterminacy and imprecision inherent in defining opposites or partially opposite concepts. The law of included infinitely-many-middles suggests that between opposites, there exist infinitely many nuances or middle values. Sorites' paradoxes challenge traditional logic by exposing the difficulties in defining vague boundaries. Neutrosophic Interpretation suggests introducing a buffer zone between opposites, resulting in Neutrosophic Sorites Paradoxes. Moreover, this exploration highlights the need for a more flexible and nuanced understanding of conceptual boundaries, acknowledging the dynamic and indeterminate nature of many philosophical and logical constructs. Finally, we delve into the application of neutrosophy to various cultural and philosophical concepts. The legendary figure of Gilgamesh, described as two-thirds god and one-third human, is examined through both traditional and neutrosophic perspectives. Additionally, Hindu concepts of Dharma, Adharma, and Karma are reexamined within the context of neutrosophy. The logic of the Diamond Sutra in Mahayana Buddhism, characterized by paradoxical language and a focus on emptiness, aligns with neutrosophic principles in challenging fixed notions and embracing the interconnected and indeterminate aspects of reality. Despite diverse cultural origins, these examples share a common thread in questioning absolutes and embracing the dynamic nature of existence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both the itihāsa-s of the Mahābhārata and the Platonic philosophical 'epode' are often used to persuade in conditions where emotion threatens to incapacitate the person for argumentative discourse. Narrative reason has its own conditions of success and failure, opening up a discursive arena in which all kinds of utterances are welcome. Emphasizing the psychagogic function of the 'once-upon-a-time' reason, it is worth asking who the real protagonist of the story is and whether the story has a duty or a dharma of its own to fulfill. Dharma and all the dilemmas it brings along with it constitute one of the fundamental problems that make up the whole Mahābhārata. In this essay I wonder about the dharma of the Mahābhārata itself—a literary work which gives itself the name 'triumph' (jaya)—and the cultural mission it fulfills in the lives of those who hear it, read it, study it, and share it with others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses Jack Kerouac's brief but intense conversion to American pseudo-Buddhism and the artistic effect of this biographical development, arguing that his conversion was total from a spiritual point of view and that its almost immediate effect was the production of a literary piece which should be read as a (fictional) pseudo-Buddhist hagiography, or a pseudo-ojoden. The article investigates Jack Kerouac's life as the life of a modern American Buddha, as a person engaged in a constant quest for spiritual enlightenment, who imbued his work with a spiritual feeling derived from his personal, direct, albeit limited experience with spirituality. His novel, The Dharma Bums, is a (fictional) pseudo-Buddhist hagiography because it is (auto)biographical, and the central characters are portrayed as enlightened, "holy" beings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of Indian films on popular culture and the influence of dominant political ideology on Indian films are interspersed with dialectical variations. Although a binary representation of these subtleties remains elusive, while promoting ideological superstructures in society, ‘the relatively mixed, confused, incomplete, or inarticulate consciousness' is replaced with a ‘generalised system'. In practice, the tendencies governing public emotions during moments of crisis are employed as tropes in Bollywood films. However, the ontology of political underpinnings and subversive ideological possibilities that enmesh lived experiences remain smothered by an unproblematic representation of historical events. With this rationale, the paper analyses three Bollywood films Panipat (2019), Tanhaji (2020) and Samrat Prithviraj (2022). These films seem to auger the idea of Dharma and Ramrajya in the construction of a Nation catering to the populist notion of a safe and secure nation under just Hindu rule. The paper argues that these films cater to the framework of historiography promulgated by the colonial historians on one hand; and function as a contrapuntal response to the ideological moorings of the leaders of the All-India Muslim League. This objective is achieved by a stereotypical and binary projection of good and evil by glossing over the ‘mixed consciousness’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maritime route connecting the Chinese continent and the Japanese archipelago facilitated a significant exchange of commercial goods and sociocultural knowledge throughout the Southern Song dynasty. Within this context, Japanese pilgrim monks traveling along this route acted as key conduits for the transmission of Buddhist teachings. Their journeys profoundly influenced the establishment and development of new Buddhist monasteries in Japan. Focusing on biographical accounts that portray the experiences of these pilgrim monks during their twelfth- and thirteenth-century sea voyages, this paper aims to explore how these accounts drew on intertextual links with existing Buddhist records to fulfill the compilers' intentions. Specifically, this paper examines the structure and sources of biographical accounts detailing miraculous encounters between pilgrim monks and Buddhist deities during perilous situations at sea. By interpreting the role of these deities in the corpus of Buddhist literature and within Japanese Buddhist monasteries founded by pilgrim monks, this paper argues that the increasing emphasis on pilgrim monks' attainment of divine protection in their biographical records suggests a growing concern for reinforcing the authority of their dharma lineages. Moreover, the composition and reception of these miraculous accounts reflected the changing religious needs and reshaped strategies for promoting specific Buddhist sects in subsequent periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]