Nine Lives audiobook cover - In Search of the Sacred in Modern India

Nine Lives

In Search of the Sacred in Modern India

William Dalrymple

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Nine Lives
Jainism: The Ascetic Creed+
Kerala: Oppression & Ritual Rebellion+
Tibetan Buddhism: From Monk to Soldier+
Bauls: Wandering Minstrels+
Core Book Theme+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
Why did Jainism and Buddhism initially emerge as partial reactions against Hinduism?
  • A. They rejected the Hindu belief in multiple gods and advocated for strict monotheism.
  • B. They criticized the Brahmins' practice of animal sacrifice and their sense of social superiority.
  • C. They believed that the Ganges basin should be a secular region free from religious rule.
  • D. They wanted to abolish the practice of asceticism, which they viewed as overly harsh.
Question 2 of 7
How do Jains view the practice of sallekhana, the voluntary fast ending in death?
  • A. As a tragic sin born out of worldly despair and depression.
  • B. As a punishment for monks and nuns who have broken their vows of non-violence.
  • C. As an act of spiritual liberation and a peaceful passage into the next life.
  • D. As a mandatory ritual that all Jains must perform to achieve the rank of Jina.
Question 3 of 7
What social and spiritual function do Theyyam ceremonies serve for the Dalit communities in Kerala?
  • A. They provide a platform to voice complaints against upper-caste oppression and build community solidarity.
  • B. They allow Dalits to officially convert to the Brahmin caste through complex purity rituals.
  • C. They serve as a means for Dalits to raise money to buy land from Nayyar landlords.
  • D. They are strict morality plays designed to enforce obedience to upper-caste legal codes.
Question 4 of 7
Under what condition does Buddhist scripture permit violence, as interpreted by the Tibetan monks who resisted the Chinese occupation?
  • A. When it is sanctioned by the Dalai Lama to reclaim stolen monastic wealth.
  • B. When it is used to enforce the conversion of non-believers to Buddhism.
  • C. When the practitioner has already achieved enlightenment and is immune to bad karma.
  • D. When it prevents an even greater sin, such as the destruction of the faith itself.
Question 5 of 7
Why did the Tibetan monk Tashi Pasang feel he had committed a terrible sin while serving in the Indian army?
  • A. He accidentally killed a fellow Tibetan soldier during a border skirmish.
  • B. He was deployed to fight in Bangladesh against Pakistani forces who posed no threat to Buddhism.
  • C. He abandoned his vows of poverty and accepted a large salary from the Indian government.
  • D. He fought against the Chinese army out of hatred rather than a desire to protect his faith.
Question 6 of 7
According to the esoteric creed of the Bauls, where can God truly be found?
  • A. Within bronze and stone idols kept in ancient temples.
  • B. In the heavens and the afterlife, accessible only after death.
  • C. Exclusively within the sacred texts of the Rigveda.
  • D. Within the bodies of men and women who seek truth in the here and now.
Question 7 of 7
What ultimately drove the blind boy, Kanai Das, to leave his village and join the wandering Bauls?
  • A. He was exiled by the village elders for refusing to work as a farmer.
  • B. He was shattered by grief after a series of family tragedies, culminating in his sister's suicide.
  • C. He wanted to amass wealth by becoming a famous singer in West Bengal.
  • D. He experienced a divine vision of Krishna instructing him to travel to the Ajoy river.

Nine Lives — Full Chapter Overview

Nine Lives Summary & Overview

Nine Lives (2009) is a study of spirituality and religion in contemporary India. Drawing on William Dalrymple’s in-depth interviews with religious practitioners, these blinks will whisk us from Tibet to Karnataka to Kerala and West Bengal as we explore four remarkable – and remarkably pious – lives. Along the way, we’ll unpack the social and historical context in which these believers’ faiths emerged and continue to be practiced.

Who Should Listen to Nine Lives?

  • Globetrotters fascinated by the world’s diversity 
  • Atheists interested in what motivates the faithful
  • History buffs

About the Author: William Dalrymple

William Dalrymple is a critically acclaimed author best known for his work on Indian history and religion. His previous books include City of Djinns and White Mughals, which received the Wolfson – Britain’s most prestigious history prize. Dalrymple is a regular contributor to the Guardian, the New Yorker, and the New York Review of Books. He is based in New Delhi and London.

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