Transformational Embodiment in Asian Religions

This volume explores the concept of embodiment in Asian religious practices, examining subtle and spatial bodies while integrating perspectives from various disciplines to address transformation, transaction, and transgression within these contexts.

Transformational Embodiment in Asian Religions delves into the theoretical aspects of embodiment as it pertains to various Asian religious practices. The book distinguishes between subtle and spatial bodies, examining how these forms of embodiment serve as crucial sites for transformation, transaction, and transgression. Through this exploration, the authors aim to provide a deeper understanding of how the body is conceptualized within different religious contexts.

The volume bridges ancient and contemporary understandings of embodiment, revisiting traditional mystical systems such as Hindu Tantra, Yoga, Tibetan Buddhism, Bon, Chinese Daoism, and Persian Sufism. It thoughtfully contrasts these traditional practices with discussions surrounding racial, gendered, and colonized bodies. This juxtaposition highlights the complex ways in which embodiment is experienced and understood across different cultural and social landscapes.

To tackle the multifaceted nature of these issues, the book employs a diverse range of perspectives, drawing from phenomenology, neuroscience, critical race theory, and feminist theology. This interdisciplinary approach equips scholars with refined analytical tools for engaging with embodied religious epistemologies. Ultimately, Transformational Embodiment in Asian Religions serves as an essential resource for scholars in Religious Studies, Asian Studies, Anthropology, Sociology, Philosophy, and Gender Studies, offering valuable insights into the intricate relationship between body and spirituality in Asian traditions.