Homegrown Gurus: From Hinduism in America to American HinduismAnn Gleig, Lola Williamson Today, a new stage in the development of Hinduism in America is taking shape. After a century of experimentation during which Americans welcomed Indian gurus who adjusted their teachings to accommodate the New World context, "American Hinduism" can now rightly be called its own tradition rather than an imported religion. Accordingly, this spiritual path is now headed by leaders born in North America. Homegrown Gurus explores this phenomenon in essays about these figures and their networks. A variety of teachers and movements are considered, including Ram Dass, Siddha Yoga, and Amrit Desai and Kripalu Yoga, among others. Two contradictory trends quickly become apparent: an increasing Westernization of Hindu practices and values alongside a renewed interest in traditional forms of Hinduism. These opposed sensibilities—innovation and preservation, radicalism and recovery—are characteristic of postmodernity and denote a new chapter in the American assimilation of Hinduism. |
Contents
| 1 | |
The Vicissitudes of Devotion and Ferocity of Grace | 15 |
Building Tantric Infrastructure in America Rudis Western Kashmir Shaivism | 41 |
Amrit Desai and the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health | 63 |
Swamis Scholars and Gurus Siddha Yogas American Legacy | 87 |
A Life in Progress The Biographies of Sivaya Subramuniyaswami | 115 |
Guru Authority Religious Innovation and the Decline of New Vrindaban | 141 |
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Homegrown Gurus: From Hinduism in America to American Hinduism Ann Gleig,Lola Williamson Limited preview - 2013 |
Homegrown Gurus: From Hinduism in America to American Hinduism Ann Gleig,Lola Williamson No preview available - 2013 |
Common terms and phrases
Aadheenam accessed Apr Adhinam Advaita Vedanta Alpert American guru American Hinduism Amrit Desai Andrew Cohen Anusara ashram Asian authority awakening bhakti biographies Buddhist charismatic consciousness contemporary culture devotees diaspora disciples divine Eckhart Tolle energy esoteric evolutionary enlightenment experience experiential followers Gangaji groups guru guru-disciple relationship guru's Hanuman Hare Krishna Hayagriva Hindu Hinduism Ibid Indian initiation innovative interfaith Interview ISKCON John Friend Kashmir Shaivism Kirtanananda Kripalu Center Kripalu Yoga kundalini lineage live Mann Master Charles meditation metaphysical movement Muktananda mystical Neem Karoli Baba Neo-Advaitin teachers Nityananda nondual Poonja postures Prabhupada prana Ram Dass's Ramana Maharshi realization Religion religious retreat role Rudi Rudi's Rudrananda Saiva Siddhanta Sandra Sanskrit satsang second-wave gurus seekers sexual shaktipat shift Shiva Siddha Yoga Sivaya Subramuniyaswami Spiritual Cannibalism spiritual practice spiritual teachers Subramuniya Swami Tamil Tantra Tantric teaching temple tion traditional transcendent University Press Vivekananda Vrindaban Western Yogaswami Yogi York