Animals do tell tales: Grimm’s Monogatari (物語) and Zen, a polylogue between worlds
Thibault Arthur Tien
Inter Asia papers June 2, 2026 DOI: 10.5565/rev/interasia.7 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Buddhism Mysticism |
| Keywords | Contemplation Archetype Gautama buddha Grasp Spirituality Aesthetics Epistemology Spiritual practice Theology Discernment Dimension graph theory |
| Key points | Argues that contemplative practice using tales, paradoxes, and archetypes can form the basis of a spiritual pedagogy that fosters inter-religious recognition and awakening to a broader reality. |
Abstract
In this article we examine the intertwining of Zen Buddhism, Christian Mysticism and Archetypes through traditional Zen contemplative practice and tales collected by the Brothers Grimm. Ana María Schlüter Rodés (1935-1925), philosopher, theologian and Zen master, disciple of Yamada Kōun Roshi (1907-1989), writes and teaches Zen through contemplation, kōans —Zen paradoxes used to awaken practitioners to grasp intuitively the Buddha mind—, parables and tales, pointing to a common spiritual reality. The aim of this article is to explore this rich polylogue and show how a contemplative practice rooted in tales, paradoxes and archetypes appears as fundamental for establishing a spiritual pedagogy forged in dialogue and a common inter-religious recognition through the understanding of different contemplative traditions with the aim to awaken ourselves to a wider dimension of reality, understanding Nature, symbols and every living being as potential masters for the hearts eager to listen.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on buddhism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mental balance and well-being: Building bridges between Buddhism and Western psychology. | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Buddhist Modernism and the Rhetoric of Meditative Experience | 1995 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Buddhist and Psychological Perspectives on Emotions and Well-Being | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Too Early to Tell: The Potential Impact and Challenges—Ethical and Otherwise—Inherent in the Mainstreaming of Dharma in an Increasingly Dystopian World | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| From self to nonself: The Nonself Theory | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |