Asceticism - The Joy of Fasting, Flagellation and Self-mutilation Essay

Asceticism - The Joy of Fasting, Flagellation and Self-mutilation In edict to achieve a spiritual understanding, people have subjected themselves to extreme self denial through fasting, flagellation and self-mutilation (The Columbia Encyclopedia). This practice of self mortification is known as asceticism. Asceticism has been known to exist since the commencement of recorded religion. This zealous apparitional practice is associated with many religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity (The Columbia Encyclopedia). Derived from the Greek work askesis, asceticism adheres to its description of exercise, training, and discipline- Ascetical practices are human strategies for spiritual living. They have elements of effort and method, deprivation, and instinctive suffering (Larkin, O. Carm). Practicing ascetics strive for the enhancement of spiritual life as their final goal. Asceticism has been implicated by many of its fol lowers in order to produce visionsmourn the deadsharpen spiritual awarenessor reach accord with a god (The Columbia Encyclopedia). The self-denying part is also a way in which to subdue sin deep down ones life and restrain ones brutal inclinations. Asceticism takes many forms. It can be applied broadly as an aspect of all cultures, as social asceticism. The social regulations that control lodge stress individual control. Without this self-control, society would fail to survive. This method of asceticism is mostly based upon the guidelines of discipline. The more severe forms of asceticism involve those who seek a profound spiritual journey. The drastic measures taken in order to come across the idea of self denial ofte... ...re.com/depts/medmuseum/galleryexhibits/artthatheals/12imagesandasceticism.htmlMercier, Jacques. Art That Heals the Image as music in Ethiopia. New York Prestel Books and the Museum for African Art, 1997.This website is entitled Ima ges and Asceticism. In Maughams The bootleg and Sixpence, Charles Strickland was a character that had an ascetic ideal in his artistic environment. These images present scenes of asceticism and the sufferings that were endured in the practice.http//www.philamuseum.org/exhibitions/installations/spiritual.shtmlThis website also displays a painting of asceticism as was practiced in India.http//www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/a/asceticism.htmlThis website provides a detailed background and invoice of asceticism. It highlights interesting stories that account for the origination of the religious practice.