<p>The thesis examines the speech of Yudhiṣṭhira and questions his status as King Dhanna and a speaker of truth. I argue that Yudhiṣṭhira has the same ability with speech as an inspired brahmin. Through an exploration of inspired brahminical speech in the Mahābhārata, I argue that brahmins have a special relationship to truth. I also present evidence that the sign of a truthful and inspired speaker is his or her eloquence: an eloquent speaker is considered to be a truthful speaker in the Mahābhārata. Yudhiṣṭhira has eloquent speech and this leads characters in the Epic to assume that he is truthful. There is, however, evidence that questions his apparent allegiance to the truth, especially if Yudhiṣṭhira's use of speech is examined.</p> <p>The thesis, with its focus on speech, presents a unique way to read the Epic and evaluate kingship. An examination of speech and kingship in the Epic is one that is largely overlooked by scholars. The thesis demonstrates that a reading of Yudhiṣṭhira which examines his ability and use of speech uncovers a more complex characterization of the king and points towards his use of deceit well before the beginning of the Mahabharata war. The thesis also demonstrates that a portion of the Epic encourages a close examination of the speech of kings, especially Yudhiṣṭhira's speech. The thesis argues that through the Mahabharata' s presentation of speech the Epic subtly encourages the use of deceit and guises by kings to attain their worldly ends.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

This is a qualitative literature analysis aimed at investigating elements of spirituality within the mindfulness practice of MBSR. This is done by looking at different definitions of spirituality, religiosity and mindfulness. I also look at the origins of mindfulness in the MBSR program and compare it to its contemporary religious counterpart to look for which similarities do or don’t exist. I consider the historical and current uses of these concepts to create a necessary background and theory. The study shows that mindfulness and related concepts are often not described in a satisfactory way within literature which creates problems in research. The founder of the MBSR method, Jon Kabat-Zinn, wanted to re-conceptualize Buddhist concepts in a secular context. But the actual inclusion of these elements depends largely on which definitions are used, and on the specific practice situation and instructor and partly on the participants’ own sense of spirituality. I discuss the use of mindfulness in secular and New age type businesses and bring up earlier criticism of mindfulness both from scientists and Buddhists. I also discuss spirituality in a secular context and how the MBSR program can be used by New age spiritual seekers and to fill people’s need for meaning and sense of coherence (SOC) in an individualistic society which is increasingly abandoning traditional religions.

The journal Stri-Dharma, published by the Women’s Indian Association from 1918 to 1936, endeavored to be the voice of the Indian women’s rights movement. It addressed political and social issues facing women in India as well as the achievements of women worldwide. Using the dichotomy of the home and world, this thesis examines how Stri-Dharma represented the tensions experienced by the Indian women’s movement as it pressed for reforms from the British colonial state, participation in the Indian nationalist movement, and inclusion in the international women’s movement.

This doctrinal study demonstrates in what way the ‘Universal Applicability’ of Buddha Dhamma can be reflected in the intervention process in view of the contemporary situation of the Buddhist Mindfulness being integrated as a psychotherapeutic technique. In past few decades, the Western psychotherapists recognize Mindfulness as ‘the heart of Buddhist meditation’ and apply it as an impartial psychotherapeutic technique to serve their clients’ physical health and psychological wellness. As recorded in the Buddhist Pāli tradition, through practicing Mindfulness meditation, people are able to comprehend the ‘Universal Applicability’ of Buddha Dhamma, to realize three universal characteristics (lakkhanas) of sentient existence, namely impermanence (anicca), un-satisfactoriness (dukkha), and non-self (anatta), and eventually to liberate their mind from suffering. From studying the Buddhist teaching of Mindfulness embedded in the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta and the Mahā-Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta, the researcher develops this tenet, “the Buddhist Mindfulness could be an effective psychotherapeutic technique when it is practiced within the Buddhist context and supported by the theoretical foundation, and when the ‘Universal Applicability’ of the Buddha Dhamma is reflected in the therapeutic process ”. Applying the tenet to study the case, the ‘Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program’ (the MBSR) initiated by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, she finds three issues which makes her hesitated to agree with the Western psychotherapists’ integrating the Buddhist Mindfulness as a stand-alone psychotherapeutic technique. The first two issues are the way the psychotherapists interpreting and implementing the Buddhist Mindfulness as a stand-alone technique without the Buddhist context and isolated from the Buddhist theoretical foundation. Resulted from the first two issues, the third one is the ‘Universal Applicability’ of Buddha Dhamma has no way to reflect in the treatment process to help people liberating from suffering. After identifying these three issues, the researcher carries on to incorporate ideas of practicing Mindfulness suggested by the Pali Buddhist tradition, and collaborate with the Social Work Profession with applying transferrable skills of the ‘Experiential Learning’ techniques to design a pilot service—the Buddhist Mindfulness-Based Social Service Project (the BMBSS). The BMBSS, consists of (1) an Orientation Meeting, (2) the six-session Prerequisite Training (the PRT-BMBSS) and, (3) the twenty-six-session Buddhist Mindfulness-Based Social Service Program (the BMBSS), aims at demonstrating the way to support the ‘Practicing Facilitators’ and the ‘Practicing Novices’ to apply the Buddhist teaching of Mindfulness into their daily activities. Moreover, the researcher designs the BMBSS Project in the way to promote interdisciplinary collaboration between Buddhist communities and the Social Work Profession to exchange ideas to benefit their services. The Social Work Profession may benefit from the Buddhist teaching on ‘non-self’ to apply its intrinsic technique of the ‘use of self’ to serve the clients, when the Buddhist communities may learn from the Social Work Profession to bring the Buddhist teaching to serve the society at large. Furthermore, ideas on supporting inter-disciplinary collaboration generated from developing the BMBSS may transfer into promoting dialogues and networking between the Buddhist communities and other professions to integrate the ‘Universal Applicability’ of Buddha Dhamma to serve the needs of the Buddhists and non-Buddhists. / published_or_final_version / Buddhist Studies / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Thesis (D.D.)--Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., 1900. / Bibliography: p. [325]-344.

Master Thesis Abstract Institute of Political Studies Faculty of Social Sciences Charles University in Prague Author: Pavithra Ramesh Supervisor: Janusz Salamon, Ph.D. E-mail: Pavithra.ramesh14@gmail.co m E-mail: janusz.salamon@univ- oxford.com Phone: +420774960096 Phone: +420731816202 Specialisation: IEPS Defense Planned: June 2017 Topic: Bioethics is the study concerned with the implications of medical procedures, technologies and treatments from the perspective of ethics, philosophy, law and its implementation. It encompasses a wide range of ethical concerns in relation to organ transplants, genetic engineering, artificial reproduction, euthanasia etc. My thesis is an attempt to probe into certain ethical nuances amidst the technological advances in the field of medicine. Particularly, with respect to organ trade in India. Since the origin of medicine the primal goals have followed the Hippocratic Oath of "Cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always." (Adams 1891). The questions this perception of early medicine leaves us with are: Have we withdrawn from the compassion and ethics prescribed with the advent of advanced lab technology? What are the issues around organ trade in India? What causes these issues? And how can this be dealt with? The approach to pursue the answers for the above, revolves around...

Cette dissertation possède un abordage qualitatif et se base sur l´ethnographie réalisée pendant la période de septembre 2013 au décembre 2014 au cours des conférences publiques offertes hebdomadairement par la Loge Théosophique Dharma, localisée dans la ville de Porto Alegre. L´objectif de cette étude consiste à analyser comment les préceptes de la Théosophie Moderne s´articulent et sont agenciés par les sujets de recherche en son quotidien. À partir de l´observation participante, de conférences semi-structurées, et recherche dans la littérature théosophique, il a été possible conclu quelle compréhension de Théosophie Moderne présentée par les sujets analysés chez Loge Théosophique Dharma se met si tant en lieu et place d´une courante de spiritualisme du siècle XIX qui preserve des caractéristiques de l´exotérisme, de l´occultisme, et les réligions orientales selon les écritures de Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, mais s´ajoutent également des références à la réligiosité et pratiques de l´univers Nouvelle Ère. / Esta dissertação possui uma abordagem qualitativa e baseia-se na etnografia realizada no período de setembro de 2013 a dezembro de 2014 em palestras públicas oferecidas semanalmente pela Loja Teosófica Dharma, localizada na cidade de Porto Alegre-RS. O objetivo desse estudo consiste em analisar como os preceitos da Teosofia Moderna articulam-se e são agenciados pelos sujeitos de pesquisa em seu cotidiano. A partir da observação participante, de entrevistas semi-estruturadas e pesquisa na literatura teosófica, foi possível concluir que a compreensão de Teosofia Moderna apresentada pelos sujeitos analisados na Loja Teosófica Dharma se coloca tanto entre o lugar de uma corrente do espiritualismo do século XIX que preserva características do esoterismo, do ocultismo, e das religiões orientais conforme os escritos de Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, mas soma também referências a religiosidades e práticas do universo Nova Era. / This study has a qualitative approach and based on the ethnography conducted from September 2013 to December 2014 in public lectures offered weekly by Theosophical Dharma Lodge, located in Porto Alegre-RS. The aim of this study is to analyze how the precepts of Modern Theosophy are articulated and are touted by research participants in their daily lives. From participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and research in theosophical literature, it was possible to conclude that understanding of Modern Theosophy presented by the analyzed subjects in the Theosophical Dharma Lodge arises between the place of a spiritualism current of 19th century that preserves esotericism, occultism and Eastern religions features as the writings of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, but also adds references to religiosities and practices of the New Age universe.

Cette dissertation possède un abordage qualitatif et se base sur l´ethnographie réalisée pendant la période de septembre 2013 au décembre 2014 au cours des conférences publiques offertes hebdomadairement par la Loge Théosophique Dharma, localisée dans la ville de Porto Alegre. L´objectif de cette étude consiste à analyser comment les préceptes de la Théosophie Moderne s´articulent et sont agenciés par les sujets de recherche en son quotidien. À partir de l´observation participante, de conférences semi-structurées, et recherche dans la littérature théosophique, il a été possible conclu quelle compréhension de Théosophie Moderne présentée par les sujets analysés chez Loge Théosophique Dharma se met si tant en lieu et place d´une courante de spiritualisme du siècle XIX qui preserve des caractéristiques de l´exotérisme, de l´occultisme, et les réligions orientales selon les écritures de Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, mais s´ajoutent également des références à la réligiosité et pratiques de l´univers Nouvelle Ère. / Esta dissertação possui uma abordagem qualitativa e baseia-se na etnografia realizada no período de setembro de 2013 a dezembro de 2014 em palestras públicas oferecidas semanalmente pela Loja Teosófica Dharma, localizada na cidade de Porto Alegre-RS. O objetivo desse estudo consiste em analisar como os preceitos da Teosofia Moderna articulam-se e são agenciados pelos sujeitos de pesquisa em seu cotidiano. A partir da observação participante, de entrevistas semi-estruturadas e pesquisa na literatura teosófica, foi possível concluir que a compreensão de Teosofia Moderna apresentada pelos sujeitos analisados na Loja Teosófica Dharma se coloca tanto entre o lugar de uma corrente do espiritualismo do século XIX que preserva características do esoterismo, do ocultismo, e das religiões orientais conforme os escritos de Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, mas soma também referências a religiosidades e práticas do universo Nova Era. / This study has a qualitative approach and based on the ethnography conducted from September 2013 to December 2014 in public lectures offered weekly by Theosophical Dharma Lodge, located in Porto Alegre-RS. The aim of this study is to analyze how the precepts of Modern Theosophy are articulated and are touted by research participants in their daily lives. From participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and research in theosophical literature, it was possible to conclude that understanding of Modern Theosophy presented by the analyzed subjects in the Theosophical Dharma Lodge arises between the place of a spiritualism current of 19th century that preserves esotericism, occultism and Eastern religions features as the writings of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, but also adds references to religiosities and practices of the New Age universe.

Cette dissertation possède un abordage qualitatif et se base sur l´ethnographie réalisée pendant la période de septembre 2013 au décembre 2014 au cours des conférences publiques offertes hebdomadairement par la Loge Théosophique Dharma, localisée dans la ville de Porto Alegre. L´objectif de cette étude consiste à analyser comment les préceptes de la Théosophie Moderne s´articulent et sont agenciés par les sujets de recherche en son quotidien. À partir de l´observation participante, de conférences semi-structurées, et recherche dans la littérature théosophique, il a été possible conclu quelle compréhension de Théosophie Moderne présentée par les sujets analysés chez Loge Théosophique Dharma se met si tant en lieu et place d´une courante de spiritualisme du siècle XIX qui preserve des caractéristiques de l´exotérisme, de l´occultisme, et les réligions orientales selon les écritures de Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, mais s´ajoutent également des références à la réligiosité et pratiques de l´univers Nouvelle Ère. / Esta dissertação possui uma abordagem qualitativa e baseia-se na etnografia realizada no período de setembro de 2013 a dezembro de 2014 em palestras públicas oferecidas semanalmente pela Loja Teosófica Dharma, localizada na cidade de Porto Alegre-RS. O objetivo desse estudo consiste em analisar como os preceitos da Teosofia Moderna articulam-se e são agenciados pelos sujeitos de pesquisa em seu cotidiano. A partir da observação participante, de entrevistas semi-estruturadas e pesquisa na literatura teosófica, foi possível concluir que a compreensão de Teosofia Moderna apresentada pelos sujeitos analisados na Loja Teosófica Dharma se coloca tanto entre o lugar de uma corrente do espiritualismo do século XIX que preserva características do esoterismo, do ocultismo, e das religiões orientais conforme os escritos de Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, mas soma também referências a religiosidades e práticas do universo Nova Era. / This study has a qualitative approach and based on the ethnography conducted from September 2013 to December 2014 in public lectures offered weekly by Theosophical Dharma Lodge, located in Porto Alegre-RS. The aim of this study is to analyze how the precepts of Modern Theosophy are articulated and are touted by research participants in their daily lives. From participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and research in theosophical literature, it was possible to conclude that understanding of Modern Theosophy presented by the analyzed subjects in the Theosophical Dharma Lodge arises between the place of a spiritualism current of 19th century that preserves esotericism, occultism and Eastern religions features as the writings of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, but also adds references to religiosities and practices of the New Age universe.

As part of the Phenomenological Method used in this dissertation, the research work applied the hermeneutical concepts of bhakti, karma and moksha. Focus was on the role played by the guru, the sadhus and devotees of the Swaminarayan Movement and how they related t~ their religious, ethical and social obligations. Their responses to ethical scriptures were evaluated, especially with a view to determining the extent to which ethical injunctions permeates, enhances, uplifts and shapes the adherents spiritually ,morally and socially. Swaminarayan ethics was also placed within the context of Classical Hindu Texts and in particular, the work of Ramanuja and his Vishistadvaita philosophy. Further, it has been observed that the quest for the Ultimate Reality (Purushottam) is through their relationship with Akshar, Guru Pramukh Swami, the model of ethical excellence whose charisma binds the fibre of the Movement and his role serves both the ethical and transcendental plane of the Movement. / Religious Studies and Arabic / MA (Religious Studies)