On research in Zen.
The American journal of psychiatry December 1, 1975 DOI: 10.1176/ajp.132.12.1300 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractZen, a mental and spiritual discipline, has recently drawn scientific interest. The authors discuss its psychophysiological effects of meditation and the impact of enlightenment as promising research areas. They emphasize that researchers must practice Zen meditation themselves to truly understand the different perception and experience of reality it provides. Without this personal understanding, research planning and interpretation will be flawed, and a potentially valuable resource will be misused.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Argues that researchers must practice Zen meditation themselves to gain true understanding of its altered perception and reality, otherwise research will be erroneous. |
Abstract
Zen is one of several mental or spiritual disciplines that have become the object of recent scientific interest and theory. The authors discuss several aspects of Zen, such as the psychophysiological effects of meditation and the general impact of enlightenment, that are potential areas of fruitful research. They stress, however, that researchers can gain true understanding of the different perception and experience of reality to which Zen gives access only by practicing Zen meditation themselves. Without such understanding, the planning and interpretation of research will inevitably be in error and a resource of the greatest potential value misused.