Journeys of Transformation
Searching for No-Self in Western Buddhist Travel Narratives
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 23783357 |
|---|---|
| Authors | John D Barbour (St. Olaf College, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2022 |
| Publication date | 2022-03-31 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | BOOK |
| Venue | Journeys of Transformation (SOURCE_BOOK) |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1017/9781009106337 |
| OpenAlex | W3205964305 |
| ISBN | 9781009106337 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
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.
Archaeology · Art · Buddhism · Geography · Literature · Narrative · Transformation (genetics) · Computer Science · History · Japanese History and Culture · Religious Tourism and Spaces · Travel Writing and Literature
| Unique citing works | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 3 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 3 |