Bodies, religion and relationality: the paradox of the Buddhist "trikāya"

Rethinking religion along the lines of relationality rather than focusing on practice alone may substantiate the cultural meanings of embodiment. Yet, relationality may only provide a cover for exclusive practices that are intended to reduce the significance of the religious subject, as in the case...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Lee, Raymond L. M. 1950- (Author)
Format: Electronic/Print Article
Language:English
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Published: Taylor & Francis [2014]
In: Culture and religion
Year: 2014, Volume: 15, Issue: 4, Pages: 436-451
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Lamaism / Trikāya / Embodiment / Relationstechnik / Intersubjectivity
IxTheo Classification:AB Philosophy of religion; criticism of religion; atheism
AE Psychology of religion
BL Buddhism
KBM Asia
Online Access: Volltext (doi)
Description
Summary:Rethinking religion along the lines of relationality rather than focusing on practice alone may substantiate the cultural meanings of embodiment. Yet, relationality may only provide a cover for exclusive practices that are intended to reduce the significance of the religious subject, as in the case of the practice of multiple embodiments in Tibetan Buddhism. This practice refers to the ability of lamas to activate a form of transcendental reciprocity in the service of their disciples' salvation. But its application also suggests a paradox centring on the dissolution of bodies. It not only affirms ongoing relationships between lamas and their disciples but also reiterates the quest for transcendental goals beyond the intricacies of bodily connections. This paradox demonstrates that the question of bodies and subjectivity in religion may not be resolved simply by focusing on the meanings of personal relationships and relationality. The context of these meanings becomes clearer when a distinction is made between the lama"s personal goals and the metaphor of spiritual empowerment in lama-disciple relationships.
ISSN:1475-5610
Contains:Enthalten in: Culture and religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/14755610.2014.982669