Sixteenth International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities

Abstract

Contemplative Studies brings together different contemplative practices from major religions, to create a discipline in which first-, second- and third-person perspective are integrated. Contemplative Studies can be conceived as a dialogue between science, particularly with neuroscience, humanities and religious studies, to analyze the nature of contemplative practices. This emerging field is a very promising new direction in the Humanities; it is interdisciplinary by definition, global and diverse by the nature of the object studied. However, there is a serious risk that Contemplative Studies might fall into the trap of repeating and reinforcing ongoing forms of coloniality, creating a gap between present-day Science and old, long-gone traditions from India and the East. For this reason, it is essential to introduce a critical perspective in the discussion. In my view, decoloniality can be an adequate theoretical framework to approach contemplative texts and practices, helping the field develop into a more inclusive one. In this paper, I will use the work of poet and essayist Ranjit Hoskote (Bombay, 1969) as an example of what could be a decolonial perspective on Contemplative Studies. I will analyze how he brings forth his own multi-faceted contemplative tradition into the present: through poetry and translation. This analysis is intended as a contribution to the future syllabi of Contemplative Studies, currently lacking contemporary authors, particularly from the Global South.