Transcendence in Sports: How Do We Interpret Mysticism in Sports?

Authors

  • Loriliai Biernacki University of Colorado at Boulder

Keywords:

Mind-body, cognitive science, Tantra, Gopinath Kaviraj,

Abstract

This article proposes that transcendent experiences in sports follow a model of mystical experience aligned with Tantric practices. Using the writings of 20th century scholar Gopinath Kaviraj, the mechanisms for special sports abilities operates in terms of what Kaviraj calls parakÄya praveÅ›a, entering another body. This article explores these practices in relation to sports and cognitive science.

Author Biography

Loriliai Biernacki, University of Colorado at Boulder

Loriliai Biernacki is Associate Professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

References

References:

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Kaviraj, Gopinath. BhÄratÄ«ya Saṃská¹›ti aur SÄdhanÄ. DvitÄ«ya Khaṇá¸a. Patna: Bihar RÄṣṭrabhÄá¹£Ä Pariá¹£ad 1964.

Leiter, Brian and Wiesberg, Michael. “Do you Only Have a Brain? On Thomas Nagel.†In The Nation, October 22, 2012. Url: https://www.thenation.com/article/do-you-only-have-brain-thomas-nagel/. Accessed 11/29/17.

Murphy, Michael and White, Rhea. In the Zone: Transcendent Experiences in Sports. New York: Penguin 1995.

Sanderson, Alexis. “A Commentary on the Opening Verses of the TantrasÄra of Abhinavagupta.†In SÄmarasya: Studies in Indian Arts, Philosophy, and Interreligious Dialogue in Honour of Bettina Bäumer, ed. Sadananda Das and Ernst Fürlinger. New Delhi: D.K. Printworld 2005, pp. 89-148.

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Published

2018-08-01

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2018): Special Issue: Religion, Culture, and Extraordinary Experience

Section

Articles

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