Zen-informed Spiritual Research Paradigm: A Buddhist Approach to Decolonizing MSR Research
Journal of Management, Spirituality & Religion January 1, 2024 Tianyuan Yu
The author introduces a "Zen-informed spiritual research paradigm" grounded in an Eastern Buddhist worldview, arguing that it fundamentally transcends Western mainstream functionalism. The article defines "spiritual research" and discusses its philosophical and methodological implications, elaborating on features concerning ontology, epistemology, axiology, and methodology. A field study demonstrates the application of Zen methodologies in research design, data sampling, collection, analysis, theorizing, and report writing. The author proposes six evaluation criteria for spiritual research along with applicable methodological strategies. The work is described as pioneering in decolonizing mainstream research paradigms through Zen-informed approaches in response to calls for a paradigmatic shift toward global consciousness.