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Sexuality in Classical South Asian Buddhism
By Jose Ignacio Cabezon
4/5 (1 rating)
1,140 pages
27 hours
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Description
A prolific scholar surveys classical Buddhism’s approach to sex, gender, and sexual orientation in this landmark volume.
More than twenty-five years in the making, this detailed sourcebook on Buddhist understandings of sexuality, desire, ethics, and deviance in classical South Asia
is filled with both engaging translations and original and provocative analysis. Jose Cabezon, the XIVth Dalai Lama Professor at the University of California Santa Barbara, marshals an incredible array of scriptures, legal and medical texts, and philosophical treatises, explaining the subtleties of this ancient literature in lucid prose. This work will be of immense interest not only to scholars of Buddhism and gender studies but also to lay readers who want to learn more about traditional Buddhist attitudes toward sex.
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Editorial Reviews
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Editorial Reviews
Review
Over a distinguished career, José Cabezón has produced a range of studies that have enriched and broadened our knowledge of the Buddhist tradition. Here, in what will be regarded as his most important work, he masterfully explores the multiple worlds of Buddhist sexuality. A learned combination of compendium and critique, this book immediately becomes the standard work to which all readers will turn. (Donald Lopez, Arthur E. Link Distinguished University Professor of Buddhist and Tibetan Studies, University of Michigan )
“An extraordinary book, simultaneously a monument of deep, detailed South Asian philological scholarship and a sourcebook entirely accessible to a broader gender-studies readership. There is nothing remotely like it.” (Wendy Doniger, University of Chicago )
“A tour de force! The book bravely engages its subject in a way that prevents us from imposing our contemporary understandings of sexuality onto ancient ideas while also analyzing what Buddhist texts can offer to modern-day conversations on such themes as the purpose and origins of sex, the nature of sexual desire, gender and biological sex, sexual deviance, sexual ethics, celibacy, and much more.” (Sara McClintock, Emory University )
“The fruit of decades of engagement, study, and reflection, José Cabezón's Sexuality in Classical South Asian Buddhism is a stunning achievement. It not only opens up the world of traditional Indian Buddhist ideas about gender, sexuality, and sexual practices in greater depth than any work before it, it has much to say as well about our contemporary struggles with these intimate, universal human issues. Ambitious, erudite, humane, and utterly captivating, Sexuality in Classical South Asian Buddhism is a monumental contribution to Buddhist studies, Asian studies, studies in gender and sexuality, and cultural studies, sure to be the standard work on the topic for many, many years to come.” (Roger Jackson, Carlton College )
“...a massive, ambitious, and important project... a treasure trove of information.” (Buddhadharma)
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About the Author
Jose Ignacio Cabezon is the Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies and XIVth Dalai Lama Professor of Tibetan Buddhism and Cultural Studies at the University of California Santa Barbara. He is the author or editor of a dozen books and many more articles on various aspects of Tibetan religion and religious studies, with research interests as diverse as Madhyamaka philosophy, Buddhism and sexuality, classical South Asian political ethics, and Tibetan ritual. He lives in Santa Barbara, CA.
Publisher : Wisdom Publications (October 10, 2017)
Publication date : October 10, 2017
Print length : 658 pages
Customer reviews
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6 global ratings
Top review from the United States
M. J. Sweet
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Overview of Sex and Gender in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism
Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2017
Verified Purchase
This is a masterful work on a fascinating subject: sexuality, gender and sexual identities, behavior, and ethics as these topics are extensively discussed in Sanskrit and Tibetan Buddhist texts on philosophy, "metaphysics" (Abhidharma), monastic law, and popular legends.
Beginning with the Buddhists' implicit acceptance of the widespread South Asian belief in a third gender, there is much in Buddhist thought on these subjects that is radically different from current Western conceptualizations. Cabezón elucidates the material in a conversational style (with learned footnotes for the more scholarly inclined) at times making reference to world literature, pop culture and the experiences of contemporaries, including his own involvement in clarifying the Dalai Lama's view of LBGT persons as practitioners of the Buddhist Dharma. Thought provoking and even humorous at times, if you have a serious interest in gender and sexuality this is one book you ought to read.
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