The Presence of Light
Divine Radiance and Religious Experience
- Contents
- Review Quotes

Preface
Part One: The Divine Presence of Light
Introduction
1. Fiat Lux, Fiat Ritus: Divine Light and the Late Antique Defense of Ritual
Sarah Iles Johnston
2. Suhrawardi on Knowledge and the Experience of Light
Hossein Ziai
3. Luminous Consciousness: Light in the Tantric Mysticism of Abhinavagupta
Paul E. Muller-Ortega
Part Two: Transformative Visions and Their Vicissitudes
Introduction
4. Light, Vision, and Religious Experience in Byzantium
Andrew Louth
5. Hermeneutics of Light in Medieval Kabbalah
Elliot R. Wolfson
6. The Strange Death of Pema the Demon Tamer
Matthew T. Kapstein
Part Three: In the Sight of the Eye
Introduction
7. A Ray from the Sun: Mughal Ideology and the Visual Construction of the Divine
Catherine B. Asher
8. Light in the Wutai Mountains
Raoul Birnbaum
9. The Eyes of Michinaga in the Light of Pure Land Buddhism
Mimi Hall Yiengpruksawan
Part Four: Concluding Reflections
10. Rethinking Religious Experience: Seeing the Light in the History of Religions
Matthew T. Kapstein
Contributors
Index
“The Presence of Light is a significant contribution to the history of religions and the study of mysticism. This is a rich collection of essays and an exemplary model of comparative inquiry.”--William Darrow, Williams College
Asian Studies: East Asia | South Asia
Religion: Christianity | Comparative Studies and History of Religion | Islam | Judaism | South and East Asian Religions
You may purchase this title at these fine bookstores. Outside the USA, see our international sales information.