Indian Asceticism

Throughout the history of Indian religions, the ascetic figure is most closely identified with power. A by-product of the ascetic path, power is displayed in the ability to fly, walk on water or through dense objects, read minds, discern the former lives of others, see into the future, harm others, or simply levitate one's body. These tales give rise to questions about how power and violence are related to the phenomenon of play.

Carl Olson is professor emeritus of religious studies at Allegheny College. Besides over 240 reviews and essays published in scholarly journals and book anthologies, he is the author of twenty-three books, including: The Stain of Erro on the Self (2024); The Nostalgia for Origins: Religion, Evolution, Cognition, and Memory (2024); Religious Ways of Experiencing Life (2016); and Indian Asceticism (2015). Olson has been awarded the National Endowment for the Humanities chair; The Teacher-Scholar Professorship of the Humanities; and Visiting Fellowship at Clare Hall, University of Cambridge.

Preface
List of Book Abbreviations
Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 The Banyan Tree of Indian Asceticism
Chapter 3 Types of Power
Chapter 4 Violence, the Demonic, and Power
Chapter 5 Language and Power
Chapter 6 Ludic Elements: Eroticism, Comic, and Power
Chapter 7 Play, Miracles, and Power
Chapter 8 Power and Theory
Bibliography
Index