#Comparative Studies
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Comparative studies offer a powerful lens through which to understand the intersections, parallels, and divergences between cultures, religions, and philosophical systems. My focus in this area is not to flatten historical distinctiveness, but to explore how ideas, symbols, and institutions emerge, transform, and travel across time and geography. From Greco-Buddhist art in Gandhāra and the transmission of motifs between East and West, to the shared philosophical underpinnings in Hellenistic, Jewish, and Buddhist thought — these encounters reveal how profoundly interconnected human history truly is.
In my articles, I aim to highlight both the productive overlaps and the necessary cautions when drawing such comparisons. Whether it’s the evolution of writing systems, cosmologies, or metaphysical ideas like ātman and soul, or structural similarities between religious reforms and cultural expressions, comparative work helps contextualize what might otherwise be seen in isolation. The goal is not synthesis for its own sake, but a more nuanced understanding of historical dynamics, mutual influence, and the layered construction of meaning across civilizations.
There are currently 39 articles with this tag (newest first):
