Thinking's bad rap: the uses and Misuses of Zen Buddhist meditation in psychoanalytic therapy.

The author distinguishes the Soto Zen practice of shikantaza (just sitting, only sitting), as taught by Eihei Dōgen, from instrumental, facilitative, and quietist contemplative practices. Different contemplative practices reflect the underlying assumptions and goals of their traditions. How clinicians understand a practice influences its effect on the clinical encounter. Instrumental and quietist assumptions can consciously and unconsciously shape practitioners. The discussion reviews, from a psychoanalytic perspective, the advantages and disadvantages of these approaches, focusing on shikantaza in the psychoanalytic encounter.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The author makes a distinction between the expressive Soto Zen practice of shikantaza (just sitting, only sitting) that was promulgated by Eihei Dōgen, (1200-1253) the founder of the Soto Zen Buddhist school in Japan and various instrumental/facilitative and "quietist" contemplative practices. Different contemplative practices reflect and express the underlying assumptions, guiding principles and goals of different traditions. How clinicians understand and relate to any contemplative practice will in turn influence how such practices influence the clinical encounter. Instrumental/Facilitative and "Quietist" assumptions and approaches to practice continue to exert an influence on the practitioner both consciously and unconsciously. The ensuing discussion describes and provides a review from a psychoanalytic perspective, the advantages and disadvantages of these different approaches to contemplative practice with a specific focus on shikantaza in relation to the psychoanalytic encounter.