Asceticism

"Ascetic" redirects here. For the emphasis of art and beauty, see Aestheticism and Aesthetics.
Pursuing enlightenment, the historical Buddha first practiced severe asceticism before recommending a moderated Middle Way.[1] In Christianity, Francis of Assisi and his followers practiced extreme acts of mortification.[2]

Asceticism[a] is a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from worldly pleasures, often for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals.[3] Ascetics may withdraw from the world for their practices or continue to be part of their society, but typically adopt a frugal lifestyle, characterised by the renunciation of material possessions and physical pleasures, and also spend time fasting while concentrating on the practice of religion, prayer, and/or meditation.[4] Some individuals have also attempted an ascetic lifestyle to free themselves from addictions to things such as alcohol, tobacco, drugs, entertainment, sex, food, etc.[5]

Asceticism has been historically observed in many religious and philosophic traditions,[6] most notably among Ancient Greek philosophical schools (Epicureanism, Gymnosophism, Stoicism, and Pythagoreanism), Indian religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism),[6] Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam),[6] and contemporary practices continue amongst some of their followers.[5] Practitioners abandon sensual pleasures and lead an abstinent lifestyle, in the pursuit of redemption,[7] salvation, and/or spirituality.[8] Many ascetics believe the action of purifying the body helps to purify the soul, and that in doing so, they will obtain a greater connection with the Divine or find inner peace. This may take the form of rituals, the renunciation of pleasure, and/or self-mortification.[6]

However, ascetics maintain that self-imposed constraints bring them greater freedom in various areas of their lives, such as increased clarity of thought and the ability to resist potentially destructive temptations. Asceticism is seen in some ancient theologies as a journey towards spiritual transformation, where the simple is sufficient, the bliss is within, the frugal is plenty.[4] Inversely, several ancient religious traditions, such as Zoroastrianism, Ancient Egyptian religion,[9] the Dionysian Mysteries, vāmācāra, and the modern Western occult left-hand path traditions, abstain from ascetic practices and focus on various types of good deeds in the world and the importance of family life.

  1. ^ Randall Collins (2000), The sociology of philosophies: a global theory of intellectual change, Harvard University Press, ISBN 978-0674001879, p. 204.
  2. ^ William Cook (2008), Francis of Assisi: The Way of Poverty and Humility, Wipf and Stock Publishers, ISBN 978-1556357305, p. 46–47.
  3. ^ "Asceticism". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b Finn, Richard (2009). Asceticism in the Graeco-Roman World. Cambridge University Press. pp. 94–97. ISBN 978-1-139-48066-6.
  5. ^ a b Deezia, Burabari S. (Autumn 2017). "IAFOR Journal of Ethics, Religion & Philosophy" (PDF). Asceticism: A Match Towards the Absolute. 3 (2): 14. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d Furey, Constance M. (March 2012). "Body, Society, and Subjectivity in Religious Studies". Journal of the American Academy of Religion. 80 (1). Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Academy of Religion: 7–33. doi:10.1093/jaarel/lfr088. ISSN 1477-4585. LCCN sc76000837. OCLC 1479270. S2CID 45476670.
  7. ^ Wimbush, Vincent L.; Valantasis, Richard (2002). Asceticism. Oxford University Press. pp. 247, 351. ISBN 978-0-19-803451-3.
  8. ^ Lynn Denton (1992). Julia Leslie (ed.). Roles and Rituals for Hindu Women. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 212–219. ISBN 978-81-208-1036-5.
  9. ^ Wilson, John A. (1969). "Egyptian Secular Songs and Poems". Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament. New Jersey: Princeton University Press. p. 467.


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