The Zero-Point Paradigm: "Radical" Hermeneutics of Nonduality in the Work of Adi Da Samraj

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dc.contributor.advisorKripal, Jeffrey Jen_US
dc.contributor.advisorDeConick, April Den_US
dc.creatorJones, Naamleela Freeen_US
dc.date.accessioned2023-08-09T14:44:19Zen_US
dc.date.created2023-05en_US
dc.date.issued2023-04-13en_US
dc.date.submittedMay 2023en_US
dc.date.updated2023-08-09T14:44:19Zen_US
dc.descriptionEMBARGO NOTE: This item is embargoed until 2029-04-29en_US
dc.description.abstractThis dissertation examines the paradigm of the "zero-point" in the work of my father, Adi Da Samraj (1939–2008)—philosopher, artist, and founder of a twentieth- to twenty-first century new religious movement. It argues that there are advantages in applying the broader conceptual categories and theoretical framework of esotericism to Adi Da’s spiritual and philosophical worldview. To begin with, I work retroactively to trace the history of the zero-point through key figures in nineteenth to twentieth century esotericism, including H.P. Blavatsky, Rudolf Steiner, C. G. Jung, Thomas Merton, and Ervin Laszlo. Through a close reading of Adi Da’s textual corpus, I then go on to consider how the zero-point paradigm represents a core thread of “radical” nonduality woven through the lens of philosophy and metaphysics, cosmology and anthropology, and ethics and politics. I write this study as both an insider and an outsider—an intimate participant and a historian of religions. Given my history and location, I situate my project as a scholar-practitioner in the academic area of new religious movements, contemporary esotericism, and East-West integrative traditions, or Asian-inspired American spiritualities. In the end, I argue that Adi Da’s zero-point paradigm represents a compelling case study of East-West integrative spirituality, one that exemplifies the mystical epistemologies and rich combinative project that lies at the very heart of American metaphysical religion.en_US
dc.embargo.lift2029-04-29en_US
dc.embargo.terms2029-04-29en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.citationJones, Naamleela Free. "The Zero-Point Paradigm: "Radical" Hermeneutics of Nonduality in the Work of Adi Da Samraj." (2023) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/115071">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/115071</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/115071en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectAmerican Metaphysical Religionen_US
dc.subjectNondualityen_US
dc.subjectEast-West Spiritualityen_US
dc.subjectAsian-inspired American Spiritualityen_US
dc.subjectRadical Hermeneuticsen_US
dc.subjectZero Pointen_US
dc.subjectAdi Da Samrajen_US
dc.titleThe Zero-Point Paradigm: "Radical" Hermeneutics of Nonduality in the Work of Adi Da Samrajen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentReligious Studiesen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineHumanitiesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen_US
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