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Being Bodies: Buddhist Women on the Paradox of Embodiment
The relationship between body and mind has always been a topic of speculation and spirited discussion. The authors of the pieces contained in this anthology address the problem from the unique dual perspective of being women and being students of Buddhism.
256 pages, Paperback
First published October 28, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 1, 2022
This book's sub-title tells both what is good and necessary about this book, and points to its deficiency as well. Like many anthologies, the quality of the individual essays is very varied, from the wonderful and poignantly wise to the pretentious and some unbounded uncritical woo.
The purpose of this book is noble and necessary in responding to the general tendency of spiritual 'seekers' to leave the body behind in some attempt to transcend and yet, many of these women do seem to reflect the tension of embodiment and awakening as a problematic issue to resolve. Some of the guiding questions asked of the essayists were "How do we perceive, construct, imagine" our bodies? The editors invited contributors to write about the suffering of life: "sickness, disability, pain, and death." And so, the first part is just that "Body as Suffering" and this section has some of the most powerful writing to be found in the entire book. Among the writers are Darlene Cohen whose own journey with pain has led her to specialize in the area of working with pain and Joan Tollifson whose writing is strong as she details life as a lesbian born missing an arm! While at times her nondual teachings can become lopsidedly focused on "the absolute" and thus point to quietism, here her critique of self-constructions offer a pointed critique of identity politics in general.
As a naturalist, I looked forward to Part Two: "Body as Nature" and here too there were several strong essays from Kuya Minogue, Linda Chrisman writing about her birthing experience, Lenore Friendman's essay "Aging as a Russian Doll" which is one of the best essays in the collection and Connie Batten's essay, "Midlife Sacrament" which ends with a passage that captures the reality of embodiment: "If I am one of the prisms through which the universe perceives itself, it is part of my purpose to maintain a distinct and separate position made up of personal history, desire for safety, and fear of extinction. And as a temporary bubble afloat on the stream of universal flux, I am sometimes given the gift of knowing in utter effortlessness that there are no distinctions." Helena Norberg-Hodge's "Our Body and Our Economy" is one of the weakest essays replete with orientalist romanticism and ahistorical inaccuracies.
"Body as Gender" made me question how this book would manifest now rather than in the mid-nineties. It also made me wonder why a book on being bodies was so unsexy! I mean, there is pretty much no discussion of sex to be found! This, by the way, is a lacuna the editors are well aware of as they note in their Introduction. Also missing in action? There are no Asian Buddhists represented and no Black Buddhists which they chalk up to the lack of diversity in the American sangha. But that's because they also went heavy with Tibetan Buddhist practitioners and some Zen practitioners. Had they reached out to Sokka Gakkai they would have found many, including folks such as Herbie Hancock and Tina Turner!
The last two sections of the book, "Body as Vehicle" and "Body as Self" are the weakest overall with no one seeming to question the notion of body AS a vehicle! As a Zen Naturalist, the notion that the body is a vehicle or even a temple is evidence of a duality for which there is no real convincing evidence: there is no ghost in the machine! Even thinking of the mind and body as two, as Descartes did, is an error (as well described by neuroscientist and researcher, Antonio Damasio shows in his book, Descartes' Error
Overall, an uneven book that serves as a time capsule view of the shape of women in Western Buddhism in the mid-90s. So much as changed since then that I would welcome an updated new version as I still think hearing more about the body in Buddhist thinking and practice -- from both women AND men -- would be a good thing!
The purpose of this book is noble and necessary in responding to the general tendency of spiritual 'seekers' to leave the body behind in some attempt to transcend and yet, many of these women do seem to reflect the tension of embodiment and awakening as a problematic issue to resolve. Some of the guiding questions asked of the essayists were "How do we perceive, construct, imagine" our bodies? The editors invited contributors to write about the suffering of life: "sickness, disability, pain, and death." And so, the first part is just that "Body as Suffering" and this section has some of the most powerful writing to be found in the entire book. Among the writers are Darlene Cohen whose own journey with pain has led her to specialize in the area of working with pain and Joan Tollifson whose writing is strong as she details life as a lesbian born missing an arm! While at times her nondual teachings can become lopsidedly focused on "the absolute" and thus point to quietism, here her critique of self-constructions offer a pointed critique of identity politics in general.
As a naturalist, I looked forward to Part Two: "Body as Nature" and here too there were several strong essays from Kuya Minogue, Linda Chrisman writing about her birthing experience, Lenore Friendman's essay "Aging as a Russian Doll" which is one of the best essays in the collection and Connie Batten's essay, "Midlife Sacrament" which ends with a passage that captures the reality of embodiment: "If I am one of the prisms through which the universe perceives itself, it is part of my purpose to maintain a distinct and separate position made up of personal history, desire for safety, and fear of extinction. And as a temporary bubble afloat on the stream of universal flux, I am sometimes given the gift of knowing in utter effortlessness that there are no distinctions." Helena Norberg-Hodge's "Our Body and Our Economy" is one of the weakest essays replete with orientalist romanticism and ahistorical inaccuracies.
"Body as Gender" made me question how this book would manifest now rather than in the mid-nineties. It also made me wonder why a book on being bodies was so unsexy! I mean, there is pretty much no discussion of sex to be found! This, by the way, is a lacuna the editors are well aware of as they note in their Introduction. Also missing in action? There are no Asian Buddhists represented and no Black Buddhists which they chalk up to the lack of diversity in the American sangha. But that's because they also went heavy with Tibetan Buddhist practitioners and some Zen practitioners. Had they reached out to Sokka Gakkai they would have found many, including folks such as Herbie Hancock and Tina Turner!
The last two sections of the book, "Body as Vehicle" and "Body as Self" are the weakest overall with no one seeming to question the notion of body AS a vehicle! As a Zen Naturalist, the notion that the body is a vehicle or even a temple is evidence of a duality for which there is no real convincing evidence: there is no ghost in the machine! Even thinking of the mind and body as two, as Descartes did, is an error (as well described by neuroscientist and researcher, Antonio Damasio shows in his book, Descartes' Error
Overall, an uneven book that serves as a time capsule view of the shape of women in Western Buddhism in the mid-90s. So much as changed since then that I would welcome an updated new version as I still think hearing more about the body in Buddhist thinking and practice -- from both women AND men -- would be a good thing!
May 21, 2010
I'll reread sections of this book. These women, like me, struggle to accept their bodies with all the passions, limitations, and cravings.
December 2, 2024
À l’exact carrefour de tout, il y a ce livre.
December 27, 2025
Because each chapter was from a different perspective of Buddhism-practicing women, who succeeded in not neglecting all the "stuff" of the human condition, I felt that I was introduced to Buddhism without being told explicitly how to practice or what one should experience while practicing. That was an incredibly helpful introduction as free of form and a wholly personal practice. At the same time, emphasis on community was present in nearly every story. I think I'll find myself re-visiting many of these women's stories as I continue on my journey of faith. I frequently found myself marking statements that I have either said verbatim to myself about my state of being or that put words to a feeling I haven't been able to name for myself. A new realm of possibility in spirituality has been opened through the writings of these women.
February 13, 2015
Surprisingly affecting take on the pulls and drags of the body, exploring its interrelationship with Zen practice, pro and con. While there is assuredly some fluff in here, for the most part it is startlingly practical and honest about aging, addiction, pain, disability, etc..
While some passing interest in Zen practice is probably useful, the one thing that this book is not is not a feminist treatise on women's bodies. (That would be fine. But it's just not what it is.) This is a book about human bodies written entirely by women. I found the stories useful and valuable in thinking about my own aging male form.
While some passing interest in Zen practice is probably useful, the one thing that this book is not is not a feminist treatise on women's bodies. (That would be fine. But it's just not what it is.) This is a book about human bodies written entirely by women. I found the stories useful and valuable in thinking about my own aging male form.
August 4, 2011
The article about a lesbian practitioner is very moving. We need to hear more of their voices.
April 18, 2017
Three and a half stars. These were some stirring and occasionally inspiring essays about sickness, health, aging, death, beauty, and many more tricky concepts surrounding embodiment within Buddhism. This was a good companion to Buddhism After Patriarchy.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews