• Transmutations: Rejuvenation, Longevity, and Immortality Practices in South and Inner Asia

    Author(s):
    Christèle Barois, Suzanne Newcombe (see profile) , Dagmar Wujastyk
    Date:
    2018
    Subject(s):
    Medicine, History, Buddhism
    Item Type:
    Article
    Tag(s):
    Ayurveda, longevity, History of medicine, Tibetan Buddhism
    Permanent URL:
    http://dx.doi.org/10.17613/M6Z60C197
    Abstract:
    Wild and diverse outcomes are associated with transmutational practices: the prolongation of life, the recovery of youth, the cure of diseases, invincibility, immortality, enlightenment, liberation from the cycle of rebirths, and unending bliss. This range of outcomes is linked to specific practices taught in separate traditions and lineages in medical, alchemical, yogic and tantric milieus across South and Inner Asia. These practices can be individual or collective, esoteric or secular, and occur in different places from hospital to village to monastery; they involve transmutations of substances as well as transmutations of the body. Every expression by a particular lineage has a distinguishing articulation. Yet there are also very clear commonalities and interconnections between the traditions’ aims, methods and expected results. In this special issue of HSSA, we examine transmutational practices and their underlying concepts in this wider context of South and Inner Asian culture. How do these practices and ideas connect and cross-fertilise? And conversely, how are they delineated and distinct?
    Metadata:
    xml
    Published as:
    Journal article     Show details
    Pub. DOI:
    10.18732/hssa.v5i2.33
    Publisher:
    University of Alberta Libraries
    Pub. Date:
    2018-4-3
    Journal:
    History of Science in South Asia
    Volume:
    5
    Issue:
    2
    Page Range:
    i - xvii
    ISSN:
    2369-775X
    Status:
    Published
    Last Updated:
    5 years ago
    License:
    All Rights Reserved

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