Liberating Intimacy : Enlightenment and Social Virtuosity in Ch'an Buddhism

Contents: Preface. I. Theoretical foundations of Ch’an enlightenment : 1. Suffering: divergent conceptions of the context of enlightenment. 2. Culture and the limits of personhood: common rituals and uncommon tales. 3. Dramatic interdependence and improvisation: sociality as orientation. 4. Communicative conduct : the paradigmatic locus of Ch’an enlightenment. II. Practice: the embodiment of enlightenment: 5. Intimacy and virtuosity: entering the gate of Ch’an practice. 6. Opening the field of virtuosity: practicing Tun-wu, wei-hsin, and K’ung. 7. The techniques of unmaking: energy and awakening in Ch’an. 8. Morality and character in the mastery of Ch’an. Notes. References. Index.