Nothingness in Carmelite spirituality, royal yoga and Zen. A common or separate path to spiritual perfection?
R. S. Niziński
Poznańskie Studia Teologiczne December 31, 2024 DOI: 10.14746/pst.2024.46.11 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Buddhism |
| Key points | Argues that Christian perfection cannot be pursued through classical yoga or Zen-Buddhist meditation on Carmelite grounds: the only commonality between these traditions and the teachings of John of the Cross and Teresa of Jesus is the subjective experience of nothingness or emptiness, while yoga and Zen also imply an objective nothingness in the faculties that contradicts Carmelite doctrine. The author contends that proponents claiming proximity between these doctrines misunderstand John and Teresa. |
Abstract
The article addresses whether Christians can employ classical yoga or Zen-Buddhism meditation techniques to attain Christian perfection by invoking the spiritual doctrines of the Carmelite saints John of the Cross and Teresa of Jesus, with particular emphasis on John of the Cross’s concept of ‘nothingness’. It investigates the interpretation of this term within these three traditions to ascertain if it is understood similarly. The findings indicate that it is not. The sole commonality among these traditions is the subjective experience of nothingness or emptiness. However, there is no deeper resemblance, as yoga or Zen practices also imply an objective nothingness in faculties, which contradicts the teachings of John of the Cross and Teresa of Jesus. The article further analyzes the statements of proponents who assert the proximity of these doctrines to determine whether they properly comprehend the teachings of John and Teresa. The conclusion drawn is that, considering the ultimate goals of each tradition, it is not feasible to invoke Carmelite spirituality to justify the use of yoga or Zen techniques in the pursuit of Christian perfection.
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 |