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Created page with 'File:lighterstill.jpgright|frame '''Asceticism''' (from the Greek: ἄσκησις, áskēsis, "exercise" or "training" in the sense of athletic tra...'
[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Ascetic.jpg|right|frame]]
'''Asceticism''' (from the Greek: ἄσκησις, áskēsis, "[[exercise]]" or "training" in the sense of athletic training) describes a life-style characterized by abstinence from various sorts of worldly pleasures (especially [[sexual]] activity and consumption of alcohol) often with the aim of pursuing religious and [[spiritual]] goals. [[Religion]]s (including [[yoga]]) teach that [[salvation]] and liberation involve a [[process]] of [[mind]]-[[body]] [[transformation]] effected by exercising restraint with respect to [[actions]] of [[body]], [[speech]], and mind. The founders and earliest practitioners of these religions (e.g. Buddhism, Jainism, the Christian desert fathers) lived extremely [[austere]] lifestyles refraining from sensual [[pleasure]]s and the accumulation of [[material]] [[wealth]]. This is to be understood not as an eschewal of the enjoyment of life but a recognition that spiritual and religious goals are impeded by such indulgence.
Asceticism is closely related to the Christian concept of chastity and might be said to be the technical implementation of the abstract vows of renunciation. Those who practice ascetic lifestyles do not consider their [[practice]]s as [[virtue|virtuous]] but pursue such a life-style in order to satisfy certain technical requirements for mind-body transformation.
In the popular [[imagination]], asceticism is considered a sort of perversion (e.g., self-flagellation by birch twigs as the [[archetypal]] stereotype of [[self-mortification]]). However, the askēsis enjoined by religion functions in order to bring about greater freedom in various areas of one's life (such as freedom from compulsions and temptations) and greater [[peace]]fulness of mind (such as a concomitant increase in [[clarity]] and [[power]] of [[thought]]).
==Etymology==
The adjective "ascetic" derives from the ancient Greek term askēsis (practice, training or exercise). Originally associated with any form of [[discipline]]d [[practice]], the term ascetic has come to mean anyone who practices a renunciation of worldly pursuits to achieve higher [[intellectual]] and [[spiritual]] goals.
Askesis is a [[Greek]] [[Christian]] term; the practice of [[spiritual]] exercises; rooted in the [[philosophical]] [[tradition]] of antiquity. Originally introduced as the spiritual struggle of the [[Greek Orthodox Church]] as the style of life where meat, alcohol, [[sex]], and comfortable clothing are avoided, the term is now used in several other relations.
==Sociological and Psychological Views==
Early 20th century German [[sociologist]] [[Max Weber]] made a distinction between innerweltliche and ausserweltliche asceticism, which means (roughly) "inside the world" and "outside the world", respectively. [[Talcott Parsons]] translated these as "worldly" and "otherworldly" (some translators use "inner-worldly", but that has a different connotation in [[English]] and is probably not what Weber had in mind).
"Otherworldly" asceticism is practiced by people who withdraw from the world in order to live an ascetic life (this includes [[monks]] who live communally in monasteries, as well as [[hermits]] who live alone). "Worldly" asceticism refers to people who live ascetic lives but don't withdraw from the world, much like Vincent Van Gogh in the 1800s. Weber claimed that this distinction originated in the P[[rotestant Reformation]], but later became secularized, so the [[concept]] can be applied to both religious and secular ascetics.
20th century American psychological theorist David McClelland suggested that worldly asceticism is specifically targeted against worldly pleasures that distract people from their calling, and may accept worldly pleasures that are not distracting. As an example, he pointed out that Quakers have historically objected to bright colored clothing, but that wealthy Quakers often made their drab clothing out of expensive materials. The color was considered distracting, but the materials were not. Amish groups use similar criteria to make decisions about which modern technologies to use and which to avoid.[1]
[edit]Religious motivation
Self-discipline and abstinence in some form and degree is a part of [[religious]] [[practice]] within many religious and spiritual traditions. A more dedicated ascetical life-style is associated particularly with monks, yogis or priests, but any [[individual]] may choose to lead an ascetic life. Shakyamuni Gautama (who left a more severe ascetism to seek a reasoned "middle way" of balanced life), Mahavir Swami, Anthony the Great ([[Anthony of the Desert]]), [[Francis of Assisi]], and [[Mahatma Gandhi]] can all be considered ascetics. Many of these men left their families, possessions, and [[home]]s to live a mendicant life, and in the eyes of their followers demonstrated great spiritual attainment, or enlightenment.
[[Category: Religion]]
[[Category: Psychology]]
'''Asceticism''' (from the Greek: ἄσκησις, áskēsis, "[[exercise]]" or "training" in the sense of athletic training) describes a life-style characterized by abstinence from various sorts of worldly pleasures (especially [[sexual]] activity and consumption of alcohol) often with the aim of pursuing religious and [[spiritual]] goals. [[Religion]]s (including [[yoga]]) teach that [[salvation]] and liberation involve a [[process]] of [[mind]]-[[body]] [[transformation]] effected by exercising restraint with respect to [[actions]] of [[body]], [[speech]], and mind. The founders and earliest practitioners of these religions (e.g. Buddhism, Jainism, the Christian desert fathers) lived extremely [[austere]] lifestyles refraining from sensual [[pleasure]]s and the accumulation of [[material]] [[wealth]]. This is to be understood not as an eschewal of the enjoyment of life but a recognition that spiritual and religious goals are impeded by such indulgence.
Asceticism is closely related to the Christian concept of chastity and might be said to be the technical implementation of the abstract vows of renunciation. Those who practice ascetic lifestyles do not consider their [[practice]]s as [[virtue|virtuous]] but pursue such a life-style in order to satisfy certain technical requirements for mind-body transformation.
In the popular [[imagination]], asceticism is considered a sort of perversion (e.g., self-flagellation by birch twigs as the [[archetypal]] stereotype of [[self-mortification]]). However, the askēsis enjoined by religion functions in order to bring about greater freedom in various areas of one's life (such as freedom from compulsions and temptations) and greater [[peace]]fulness of mind (such as a concomitant increase in [[clarity]] and [[power]] of [[thought]]).
==Etymology==
The adjective "ascetic" derives from the ancient Greek term askēsis (practice, training or exercise). Originally associated with any form of [[discipline]]d [[practice]], the term ascetic has come to mean anyone who practices a renunciation of worldly pursuits to achieve higher [[intellectual]] and [[spiritual]] goals.
Askesis is a [[Greek]] [[Christian]] term; the practice of [[spiritual]] exercises; rooted in the [[philosophical]] [[tradition]] of antiquity. Originally introduced as the spiritual struggle of the [[Greek Orthodox Church]] as the style of life where meat, alcohol, [[sex]], and comfortable clothing are avoided, the term is now used in several other relations.
==Sociological and Psychological Views==
Early 20th century German [[sociologist]] [[Max Weber]] made a distinction between innerweltliche and ausserweltliche asceticism, which means (roughly) "inside the world" and "outside the world", respectively. [[Talcott Parsons]] translated these as "worldly" and "otherworldly" (some translators use "inner-worldly", but that has a different connotation in [[English]] and is probably not what Weber had in mind).
"Otherworldly" asceticism is practiced by people who withdraw from the world in order to live an ascetic life (this includes [[monks]] who live communally in monasteries, as well as [[hermits]] who live alone). "Worldly" asceticism refers to people who live ascetic lives but don't withdraw from the world, much like Vincent Van Gogh in the 1800s. Weber claimed that this distinction originated in the P[[rotestant Reformation]], but later became secularized, so the [[concept]] can be applied to both religious and secular ascetics.
20th century American psychological theorist David McClelland suggested that worldly asceticism is specifically targeted against worldly pleasures that distract people from their calling, and may accept worldly pleasures that are not distracting. As an example, he pointed out that Quakers have historically objected to bright colored clothing, but that wealthy Quakers often made their drab clothing out of expensive materials. The color was considered distracting, but the materials were not. Amish groups use similar criteria to make decisions about which modern technologies to use and which to avoid.[1]
[edit]Religious motivation
Self-discipline and abstinence in some form and degree is a part of [[religious]] [[practice]] within many religious and spiritual traditions. A more dedicated ascetical life-style is associated particularly with monks, yogis or priests, but any [[individual]] may choose to lead an ascetic life. Shakyamuni Gautama (who left a more severe ascetism to seek a reasoned "middle way" of balanced life), Mahavir Swami, Anthony the Great ([[Anthony of the Desert]]), [[Francis of Assisi]], and [[Mahatma Gandhi]] can all be considered ascetics. Many of these men left their families, possessions, and [[home]]s to live a mendicant life, and in the eyes of their followers demonstrated great spiritual attainment, or enlightenment.
[[Category: Religion]]
[[Category: Psychology]]