Pleasing to behold: healing and the visualized body

Abstract

Techniques of mental visualization, and the visualization of the body of the Buddha in particular, are central to many Buddhist meditational practices. The paper begins with a description of a Tibetan healing ritual centred on the visualization of the Buddha in his healing form. This is followed by two accounts of the meaning of this practice: first as elucidated within the Buddhist philosophical framework, and second, from a sociological standpoint. Core elements of the Buddhist philosophy of the body underpinning this practice are elucidated: ideas relating to the provisional nature of reality, interdependence and the central concept of the mutability of the self. Recent theorizing within the sociology of the body views the self as being charged with emotions, discusses body image and aims to deconstruct our notions of materiality. The paper draws out the similarities between aspects of Buddhist philosophy and current sociological thinking about the body. It calls for the need to understand these practices in their own terms in order to fully appreciate their importance.