Reddit reviews Shankara's Crest Jewel of Discrimination

Hey, /u/Eskoe. I'm no longer busy, for now.

To begin with Hinduism, /u/wza recommended me Shankara's Crest-Jewel of Discriminiation. I purchased it and have yet to read it, though I do recommend you read about Adi Shankara, as well as the school of Hindu philosophy he expounded, Advaita Vedanta. The three canonical texts of the school (and of all Hindu schools of philosophy) are available on Project Gutenberg: the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita. Visit /r/hinduism if you have questions specific to Hinduism. In fact, two of the most recent posts are ascetic:

It is not the fulfillment of a desire that makes you happy it is only the contentment that makes you happy ~ Sri Swami Tattvavidananda

and

If you want to pursue yoga you must do away with all forms of indulgence ~ Sri Swami Tattvavidananda

Now, Buddhism. Of course, read about the Buddha, who lived a life of much asceticism, and read the Dhammapada, a short Buddhist text available on Project Gutenberg. This list of notable hermits includes numerous Buddhist ascetics you may enjoy reading about. Also read about Buddhist monasteries and monks. In terms of "warrior asceticism", you may like to read about Shaolin Monastery. I personally enjoy reading about Bodhidharma, the Buddhist monk credited for transmitting Ch'an (known in Japanese as Zen) to China. Legend has it that, "he also began the physical training of the Shaolin monks that led to the creation of Shaolinquan". Visit /r/Buddhism if you have questions specific to Buddhism.

Before I stray from Eastern philosophy, read about dousing:

> Some Japanese ascetic practices, as with Shinto misogi practices, include dousing. This is seen, for example, with some Aikido martialists. Morihei Ueshiba was known to practice cold water misogi.

> Kamakura, Japan has a temple whose Nichiren Buddhist priests in training practice a ritual of 100 days of fasting, meditation and walking which ends with stripping to loincloths and dousing with ice cold water.

If I recall correctly, I discovered the above through reading about samurai, which seems in line with your "warrior asceticism". (A personal anecdote: It wasn't long after reading that that I began having regular cold showers.)

Now, Western philosophy. Read about Cynicism and the Cynics. In particular, Antisthenes, Diogenes of Sinope and Crates of Thebes. Chapters on each can be found in Diogenes Laertius' Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers.

Read also about Stoicism and the Stoics. In particular, Seneca the Younger, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius. Texts by each can be found here. Epictetus' Enchiridion is a short Stoic text, similar to the Buddhist's Dhammapada. Marcus Aurelius' Meditations is seemingly the most popular Stoic text, though. However, in comparison with Cynicism, Stoicism seems more like simple living than asceticism. In terms of "warrior asceticism", besides the article in my previous comment, read this, a list of books which seem to link Stoicism and the military. Visit /r/Stoicism for questions specific to Stoicism.

Stoicism is said to have inspired much of Christian literature. I recently read The Imitation of Christ and very much enjoyed it - it is very ascetic and is available on Project Gutenberg. Read about the Desert Fathers. In particular, Anthony the Great. I purchased The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks and have yet to read it in its entirely but have liked what I've read hitherto. Read also about Francis of Assisi. A biography of his is available on Project Gutenberg. Read about Leo Tolstoy (that's right, Tolstoy, an ascetic). This is where I recommend you his books, on the world's behalf. Read his books.

As you shall read, Leo Tolstoy is very much inspired by Arthur Schopenhauer. Schopenhauer is inspired by many of the above philosophies, in particular, the Eastern philosophies, though he is very much a Western philosopher. He is best known for his text, The World as Will and Representation. Arthur Schopenhauer is probably the name here most popular in this subreddit. So, ask here for questions specific to him.

I'd exclude the Transcendentalists this time around, as they seem less ascetic and more advocates of simple living. However, because another user recommended them in this post of yours, I shall include them. One Transcendentalist is Ralph Waldo Emerson, best known for his essay, Self-Reliance, which is available on Project Gutenberg. Another Transcendentalist is Henry David Thoreau, who is best known for his text, Walden, and his essay, Civil Disobedience, which are both available on Project Gutenberg, here and here.

That is the reading material I'd recommend you. I have video material, too.

I'd recommend you the series, Extreme Pilgrim. Part One: China can be seen here (which may feature your "warrior asceticism"), Part Two: India, here, and Part Three: Egypt, here. Part Three: Egypt features a man named Father Lazarus El Anthony, a former Marxist/atheist university lecturer who became a Christian hermit. You can watch a series about him here.

I apologise that my comment doesn't tackle much "warrior asceticism", but rather, asceticism generally. However, if you tackle the above, I expect you'll encounter much "warrior asceticism" where I have not. Good luck with your reading, /u/Eskoes. You have me drained.