On the Body - Buddhist-Christian Dialogues

In a series of dialogues, scholars and practitioners from Buddhism and Christianity address central facets of the body as perceived in both traditions: the body's impermanence, its relation to the mind, its part in ecology and social relations, its significance in concepts of gender and sexuality, its role in contemplation, prayer and ritual, and its capacity to embody transcendence. Exploring both spiritual wisdom connected to the body as well as short-comings and deficits, the dialogues inquire how both traditions may learn and benefit from the insights of the other. Human existence is embodied existence. By their reflections on the body and body-related practices, Buddhism and Christianity engage with a crucial aspect of our being. In both traditions, the spectrum of views is extremely broad, ranging from outright condemnation of the body to its highest praise as a tool of awakening or a temple of the Holy Spirit. With contributions by Kajsa Ahlstrand, Raquel Bouso, Michael von Brück, Thomas Cattoi, Sybille Fritsch-Oppermann, Shodhin Geiman, Ruben Habito, Elizabeth Harris, Claudia Jahnel, Amy Paris Langenberg, David Loy, Andreas Nehring, Carola Roloff, Markus Rüsch, Perry Schmidt-Leukel, Peter Tyler, Werner Vogd and Fabian Völker.