Journeys of Transformation Searching for No-Self in Western Buddhist Travel Narratives

Western Buddhist travel narratives are autobiographical accounts of a journey to a Buddhist culture. Dozens of such narratives have since the 1970s describe treks in Tibet, periods of residence in a Zen monastery, pilgrimages to Buddhist sites and teachers, and other Asian odysseys. The best known of these works is Peter Matthiessen's The Snow Leopard; further reflections emerge from thirty writers including John Blofeld, Jan Van de Wetering, Thomas Merton, Oliver Statler, Robert Thurman, Gretel Ehrlich, and Bill Porter. The Buddhist concept of 'no-self' helps these authors interpret certain pivotal experiences of 'unselfing' and is also a catalyst that provokes and enables such events. The writers' spiritual memoirs describe how their journeys brought about a new understanding of Buddhist enlightenment and so transformed their lives. Showing how travel can elicit self-transformation, this book is a compelling exploration of the journeys and religious changes of both individuals and Buddhism itself.

ISBN:	9781009098830
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Imprint:	Cambridge University Press
Published date:	31 Mar 2022
DEWEY:	294.3444
DEWEY edition:	23
Language:	English
Number of pages:	viii, 334
Weight:	654g
Height:	160mm
Width:	237mm
Spine width:	25mm

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