Dialogues with Three Religious Renunciates and Reflections on Wisdom and Maturity

In-depth interviews and participation observation were conducted with Hindu religious renunciates living in Varanasi and Pondicherry, India. The respondents selected were designated by their acquaintances as being spiritually mature. Analysis of excerpts from three representative interviews indicate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of aging & human development 1991, Vol.32 (3), p.211-227
Main Author: Thomas, L. Eugene
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult Development
Adult. Elderly
Aged
Aging
Aging & longevity
Aging - psychology
Attitude to Death
Biological and medical sciences
Cross-Cultural Comparison
Death
Developing Countries
Developmental psychology
Foreign Countries
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Geriatric psychology
Hinduism
Humans
India
Interviews
Life Satisfaction
Life Style
Male
Males
Maturity (Individuals)
Men
Non Western Civilization
Older Adults
Older people
Participation
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Relaxation Therapy
Religion
Religion and Psychology
Religious orders
Religious Renunciates
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Summary:In-depth interviews and participation observation were conducted with Hindu religious renunciates living in Varanasi and Pondicherry, India. The respondents selected were designated by their acquaintances as being spiritually mature. Analysis of excerpts from three representative interviews indicate that these men rate as highly mature by Western developmental models, but Western correlates of life satisfaction were not found to hold for these men. The implications for Western aging are considered, particularly the importance of contemplation and acceptance of death.
ISSN:0091-4150
1541-3535
DOI:10.2190/606R-QNQ3-QA93-F91W