Tra Purezza e Ascesi. Conclusioni sul problema della visione medica nel Buddhismo

Beginning with the association between Buddhism and medicine, this article charts the history of yogic-meditative practices as therapeutic modalities for the mind and body. The aim is to furnish the anthropological inquiry into contemplative practices with the requisite theoretical tools. Specifically, this analysis explores the relationship between these practices and asceticism, tracing its evolution across time and ideals. Additionally, this article examines the implications that such transformations have for the concepts of purity and impurity. The use of these notions in the canon and subsequent theoretical elaborations is also considered, particularly their function as doctrinal instruments that employ medical metaphors to encourage a holistic therapy.