Searching for the Body: A Contemporary Perspective on Tibetan Buddhist Tantra

In the early fifteenth century, two Tibetan monks debated the mechanics of body mandala, a tantric ritual practice. Their debate witnessed clashes between imagination and deception, continuity and rupture, and tradition and innovation. Rae Erin Dachille's book explores how Ngorchen and Khédrup used citational practice as a tool for making meaning, arguing that their texts reveal a deep connection between ritual mechanics and interpretive practice. It offers new perspectives on the transformative potential of representations in defining and transcending the human.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 25 October 2022
Publisher: Columbia University Press

In the early fifteenth century, two Tibetan monks engaged in a profound debate about the transformative power of ritual practices aimed at transforming the body into a celestial palace inhabited by Buddhas. The discussion between Ngorchen Künga Zangpo and Khédrupjé Gélek Pelzangpo delved into the intricate mechanics of the body mandala, a tantric ritual practice that aimed to merge the physical body with the spiritual realm.

As representatives of the Sakya and emerging Geluk traditions, respectively, these authors spoke for communities of Buddhist practitioners who were vying for patronage and prestige in the evolving Tibetan scholastic culture. Their debate showcased a clash between imagination and deception, continuity and rupture, and tradition and innovation.

Rae Erin Dachille's book, Searching for the Body, explores the significance of this debate for understanding Tibetan Buddhism and its relationship to broader conversations on representation and embodiment. Dachille argues that Ngorchen and Khédrup used citational practice as a tool for making meaning, revealing a deep connection between ritual mechanics and interpretive practice. She contends that this debate addresses contemporary issues such as interpretation, intertextuality, creativity, essentialism, and naturalness.

By placing Buddhist thought in dialogue with contemporary artistic practice and cultural critique, Searching for the Body offers vital new perspectives on the transformative potential of representations in defining and transcending the human. The book demonstrates how Buddhist ideas about the construction of meaning and the body can offer fresh insights into the complexities of representation and its role in shaping our understanding of the world.

In an epilogue, Dachille considers Glenn Ligons engagement with Robert Mapplethorpe's photography, highlighting how Buddhist ideas about the body can be applied to contemporary artistic practices. The book concludes by emphasizing the importance of exploring the boundaries between different disciplines and engaging in interdisciplinary dialogue to deepen our understanding of the human experience.

In conclusion, Rae Erin Dachille's book, Searching for the Body, provides a rich and insightful exploration of the body mandala debate and its significance for understanding Tibetan Buddhism and contemporary debates on representation and embodiment. By placing Buddhist thought in dialogue with contemporary artistic practice and cultural critique, the book offers valuable new perspectives on the transformative power of representations and their potential to shape our understanding of the human experience.

Weight: 596g
Dimension: 163 x 243 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231206082