The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (907 page)

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Authors: John Bowker

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
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Gutiérrez, G.
(theologian)
:
Gu
k
(Pañj
b
, ‘manual’). Book of devotions. Sikhs use this term to refer to the breviaries including the
Nitnem
and the
Sukhman
.
Gymnastics, Taoist
.
This refers to the Chinese Tao-yin, meaning literally ‘to guide’ or ‘conduct’: stretching and bending exercises to facilitate permeation of ‘vital breath’ (
ch’i
) throughout the body. The version best known today is the formalized, adagio-dance-like
t’ai-chi-ch’üan
practised daily by millions of people in E. Asia, and nowadays elsewhere as well.
Gymnosophists
.
‘Naked philosophers’, referred to by Greek historians from the time of Alexander's invasion of India (327–326 BCE) to the 5th cent. CE. Pliny's description of them sitting naked in one posture and inflicting hardships on themselves suggests that they were possibly
Digambara
Jain monks.

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