Between 300 BCE and 200 CE; concepts and practices of dharma attained literary prominence throughout India. Both Buddhist and Brahmanical authors sought to clarify and classify their central concerns; and dharma proved a means of thinking through and articulating those concerns. Alf Hiltebeitel shows the different ways in which dharma was interpreted during that formative period: from the grand cosmic chronometries of kalpas and yugas to narratives about divine plans; gendered nuances of genealogical time; royal biography (even autobiography; in the case of the emperor Asoka); and guidelines for daily life; including meditation. He reveals the vital role dharma has played across political; religious; legal; literary; ethical; and philosophical domains and discourses about what holds life together. Through dharma; these traditions have articulated their distinct visions of the good and well-rewarded life. This insightful study explores the diverse and changing significance of dharma in classical India in nine major dharma texts; as well some shorter ones. Dharma proves to be a term by which to make a fresh cut through these texts; and to reconsider their own chronology; their import; and their relation to each other.
#1129467 in Books Desjardin Thomas A 2009-10-29Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 5.40 x .70 x 8.20l; .69 #File Name: 0195382315272 pagesISBN13: 9780195382310Condition: NewNotes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. With The 20th MaineBy Critic MoiI have read a lot about the 20th Maine at Gettysburg and the exploits of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain; their Colonel. I enjoyed "Killer Angels" and the movie "Gettysburg" based on that novel. I have also read the after action report filed by Chamberlain. This book is very well researched and fairly easy to read. Only about the first third is about the Little Round Top action while another third is devoted to what happened to the leading characters after the battle. The last third is mostly statistics; while if correct; represent a great deal of work to organize. For a person interested in this particular action at Gettysburg this book can be rewarding. However; it is fairly dry for anyone looking for dramatization of the action.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Firm Thumbs UpBy Joan B.Tough to write a book with differing accounts of what happened way back when."Stand Firm" does a fine job separating what makes sense with legend and fiction. It disects why certain versions of the 20th Maine's Little Round Top battle are taken as gospel even though there is overwhelming evidence to the contrary. I was suprised to learn how much "Killer Angels"/the movie "Gettysburg" was fictionalized; and "Stand Firm" author Desjadin makes it clear that "Killer Angels" did not pass itself off as being all fact-based. Similar to the Hollywood versions of the Alamo."Stand Firm" did not dampen my enthusiasm for the Little Round Top/Gettysburg battle story; Joshua Chamberlain's life or the campaigns of the 20th Maine; in fact; I have enven a better appreciation for them. I toured the Gettyburg battlefield; including Little Round Top once and it whetted my appetite to go back again with this fresh perspective of how it really was.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Edwin G. Herrickvery Good book
