Multiple habitus : Italian Buddhism, neoliberalism, and embodiment

Abstract

This article introduces the idea of multiple habitus , a heuristic tool for analyzing the transmission, incorporation and social reproduction of religious teachings within a continuously transforming spiritual field. Drawing on data from the project ‘Buddhism in Italy’ we show how Italian Buddhism articulates a plurality of “core dispositions” that display notable congruence across major Buddhist traditions while simultaneously reflecting the localized ethos of specific pedagogical environments and of the broader neoliberal order. Through qualitative interviews, participant observation and survey data, we demonstrate that these dispositions are cultivated in collective meditation rituals and everyday practices, where interpretations of the body and its legitimate role intersect with broader neoliberal logics. By situating Italian Buddhism within the wider processes of religious pluralism, spiritual experimentation and the therapeuticization of the sacred, the concept of multiple habitus illuminates how practitioners creatively adopt and adapt religious resources in ways that resonate with the contemporary Western zeitgeist .