The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c15.s1.55

c15.s1.55

To conclude: the concept of a reaction to something alien can be better replaced by that of symbiosis—a symbiosis between old, established, particularistic, and comparatively risk-free modes of operation and organization on the one hand and the risky new dimension that promises the realization of equally old, established, universalistic ideals. The symbiosis is obviously an uneasy one, turning as it does on incompatibility. The essential point is, however, that it steadily grows and develops new forms. This symbiosis was brought about by Western expansion, which nevertheless did not and could not share in it. Not because it was Western, but because it would not involve itself in the problems of the relationships.