The watermill and the water buffalo: Monastic thoughts on distraction and mind
Charlotte Eubanks, Jamie Kreiner
postmedieval March 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1057/s41280-026-00410-8 (opens in new tab) via Springer Nature
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThis dialogue examines how the late antique Christian monk John Cassian and the medieval Zen teacher Dōgen understood religious concentration, exploring both the importance of mental focus and the experience of its opposite, 'distraction' or 'loss of mind'. The authors draw on Cassian's and Dōgen's writings to discuss the role of concentrated attention in spiritual practice, suggesting that both traditions value sustained focus while also recognizing the challenges posed by distraction. The piece does not present empirical findings but offers a comparative philosophical and theological reflection on concentration and its disruption.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Embodiment Metacognition Zazen |
| Key finding | Argues that John Cassian and Dōgen provide complementary accounts of religious concentration and distraction, highlighting both the necessity of mental focus and the spiritual significance of its loss. |
Abstract
本稿は座談会のかたちで、古代末期のクリスト修道士ジョン・キャッシアンと鎌倉時代の道元禅師の考えをもとにして、宗教的な集中力の大切さまたはその反対である「失心」の体験について論じる。 This Dialogue thinks about how the late antique Christian monk John Cassian and the medieval Zen teacher Dōgen described religious concentration, exploring both why mental focus is so important and what happens when distraction wins the day.