The aesthetics of disgust in Sanskrit Buddhist literature
On April 20, 2024, Professor Shenghai Li presented an insightful lecture on “The Aesthetics of Disgust in Sanskrit Buddhist Literature”.
The discussion explored the ways in which Buddhist authors made significant contributions to different categories of Sanskrit literature, including court epics, a combination of prose and poetry, plays, and collections of writings.
The central question explored was whether Buddhist scholars influenced the Sanskrit theory of aesthetics.
Professor Li focused on the concept of disgust, often featured in narratives of renunciation and self-sacrifice.
He argued that these elements of disgust played a crucial role in enhancing the aesthetic experience of peace and compassionate heroism, as recognized by traditional Sanskrit aesthetic theory.
By referencing the works of Abhinavagupta, Professor Li provided a framework for analyzing the aesthetics within Buddhist literature.
Despite the rarity of explicit aesthetic commentary by Indian Buddhists, Professor Li highlighted significant texts like Vidyakara’s Subhashitaratnoksha, an anthology of Sanskrit poetry, and Sakya Pandita’s The Entrance Gate for the Wise.
These works offer valuable insights into how the Buddhist intelligentsia might have engaged with and reflected on aesthetic principles in late Indian Buddhism.
Ultimately, Professor Li’s talk illuminated the nuanced ways in which Buddhist literature intersected with and potentially shaped the broader Sanskrit aesthetic tradition.
