Buddhism and transgression : the appropriation of Buddhism in the contemporary West / / by Adrian Konik.

• Superior document: Numen book series. Studies in the history of religions ; 125
• Author: Konik, Adrian.
• Year of Publication: 2009
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Language: English
• Series: Studies in the history of religions ; 125.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (220 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.

If Buddhism is to remain relevant to the contemporary era, through providing effective solutions to the proliferating and protean discursive problems encountered by its present-day practitioners, it cannot continue to ignore the role of discourse in the formation of subjectivity. In the interest of problematizing such ‘ignorance,’ this book explores the potential interface between Foucaultian discourse analysis and the development of an indigenous rationale for the practice of contemporary Western Buddhism, along with the growing significance of such a rationale for ‘traditional’ Buddhism in an era dominated by disciplinary/bio-power. Through doing so, this book radically re-conceptualizes the role of Buddhism in the world today by linking Buddhist practice with acts of discursive transgression.

Table of Contents

Preliminary Materials / A. Konik -- Introduction / A. Konik -- Chapter One. The Problem Of Effective Critique / A. Konik -- Chapter Two. Disciplinary/Bio-Power And Rational Autonomy / A. Konik -- Chapter Three. Secularized/Medicalized Confession And The Problematization Of Rational Autonomy / A. Konik -- Chapter Four. The Blank Canvas Of Tibet / A. Konik -- Chapter Five. Lobsang Rampa’S The Third Eye: The Autobiography Of Atibetan Lama / A. Konik -- Chapter Six. John Blofeld’S The Wheel Of Life: The Autobiography Of A Western Buddhist / A. Konik -- Chapter Seven. Anagarika Govinda’S Autobiographical The Way Of The White Clouds / A. Konik -- Chapter Eight. The ‘Technological Mind,’ Discourse Analysis, And The Emergence Of A New Type Of Socially Engaged Contemporary Western Buddhism / A. Konik -- Conclusion / A. Konik -- Afterword / A. Konik -- Bibliography / A. Konik -- Index / A. Konik.