Meditation
The Traffic in Hierarchy September 30, 2017 Ward Keeler
Meditation holds great prestige in contemporary Burmese Buddhist practice, especially the 'insight' tradition. This chapter argues that meditation's high status comes from its model of overcoming social vulnerability by withdrawing from interaction. Drawing on observations from a ten-day insight meditation retreat, the analysis suggests that meditation's prominence reflects the high value placed on autonomy, particularly for males. By enacting a cessation of interaction, meditation embodies a state of invulnerability and serenity that detachment offers.