World Conqueror and World Renouncer

Abstract

World Conqueror and World Renouncer is the first comprehensive and authoritative work on the relationship between Buddhism and the polity (political organization) in Thailand. The book conveys the historical background necessary for full comprehension of the contemporary structural relationship between Buddhism, the sangha (monastic order), and the polity, including the historic institution of kingship. Professor Tambiah delineates the overall relationship, as postulated in early Buddhism, between the monk's otherworldly quest on one side and the this-worldly ordinating role of the monarchy on the other. He also examines the complementary and dialectical tensions that occur in this classical relationship, the king's duty to both protect and purify the sangha being a notable example.

Conquering the quarters: Religion and politics in Hinduism

“…Perhaps the differences between the two types of digw~aya relate to the kind of person who undertakes them: a king in the one case, and a renouncer in the other. Yet Indian history and literature are filled with examples of king-renouncers, such as those discussed here (see also Lorenzen 1976;Orr 1940;Tambiah 1976), as well as of renouncer-kings, such as Bhartr.hari, Gopicanda, Hari~candra, and Janaka. As these examples show, the line between king and renouncer--like that between religion and politics--is not always easy to draw.…”

The Water World of the Orang Suku Laut in Southeast Asia

“…Spatial relations in Southeast Asia have long underpinned and inspired major works on political organization in the region. Most notably, the thought provoking concepts of Stanley Tambiah's (1976) galactic polity, Benedict Anderson's (1991) imagined communities, Thongchai Winichakul's (1994) geo-body, and James C. Scott's (2009) Zomia have opened new discussions and debates that served to refine our understanding of space and spatial relations in Southeast Asia.…”

The roots of Indian pluralism

“…23 Likewise, the term 'religious tolerance' is also used by Tambiah. 24 Is the term 'toleration' or 'tolerance' appropriate in this context? In the classical 17 th -century meaning of the term, to tolerate is to refrain from interference in the activities of others though one finds them morally disagreeable, even repugnant, and despite the fact that one has the power to do so.…”