“To study the Buddha Way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be actualized by myriad things. When actualized by myriad things, your body and mind as well as the bodies and minds of others drop away. No trace of enlightenment remains, and this no-trace continues endlessly.” ― 13th Century Zen Master, Dogen
The Zen school of Buddhism has a strong focus on meditation, and attaining a direct, non-conceptual insight into the nature of reality. Release from suffering comes via a penetrating inquiry into the nature of self, and the nature of reality. The most intensive form of this is Sesshin - a silent meditation retreat often a week long in duration, which may consist of 7-12 hours of seated meditation each day, as well as private meetings with the Zen teacher (a Sensei or Roshi.) Most of the Zen Buddhism practiced in Australia, and other Western countries, is derived from Japan, but lineages from Korea, China, Taiwan, and Vietnam also exist.
Zen and western psychology, psychotherapy, and counselling have had a fruitful interchange, resulting in forms of therapy such as gestalt therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, mindfulness based stress reduction, and influences on many other therapies including acceptance and commitment therapy, and the psychological professions as a whole. Many practitioners in the mental health professions have some familiarity with Buddhism, or even specifically Zen, but relatively few have trained intensively in these traditions.
Zen and western psychology, psychotherapy, and counselling have had a fruitful interchange, resulting in forms of therapy such as gestalt therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, mindfulness based stress reduction, and influences on many other therapies including acceptance and commitment therapy, and the psychological professions as a whole. Many practitioners in the mental health professions have some familiarity with Buddhism, or even specifically Zen, but relatively few have trained intensively in these traditions.
What are the benefits of connecting Zen and psychotherapy?
In keeping with the Zen tradition, which values open questions more than answers, I'll highlight a few questions and creative tensions below.
- Zen promotes silence, solitude, and meditation as a path to self discovery. This can become a hiding place, just like anything else can. In the words of Zen teacher Dainan Katagiri "you have to say something." What might you be surprised to find yourself saying, in the space between two people in a psychotherapy session, that might not emerge into consciousness even over years of intensive meditation?
- Kensho, or enlightenment, does not necessarily make us psychologically well adjusted. It doesn't even necessary make us nice people. Respected Zen Masters such as Bodhin Kjolhede of the Kapleau-Rochester lineage have talked about the importance of therapy to uncover personal issues, even after completing formal zen training. These issues have been raised increasingly in Zen communities over the past few years, utilising the psychological concept of spiritual bypassing. This is when psychological issues are bypassed via a focus on the spiritual.
- "If you meet the Buddha, Kill the Buddha!" What does this mean, other than macho male spiritual aggression? For mature spiritual and Zen practitioners, the ideals need to die. We've met enough wise and kind practitioners, and enough arrogant or deeply wounded Zen practitioners to know that everyone needs to start over, right at the beginning. Beginners mind. Often the place to do this is an therapy. Simply to acknowledge this is how I feel. This is what my life is like right now.
Koans, Shikantaza and psychotherapy.
Meditating with Koans is to sit for hours on end with seemingly paradoxical questions, like "show me your face before your parents were born", or famously "what is the sound of one hand clapping." The deep questioning of Koan practice has parallels with therapy. Many of us have our own "therapy koans". Some examples might be "how can I actually connect with others", "how can I be happy or satisfied", or "why do I keep enacting the same painful pattern even though I know that it doesn't work?"
Another important Zen meditation practice is Shikantaza - just sitting with open awareness of whatever experience arises. This has parallels with psychotherapy when the invitation is to literally say whatever comes to mind, without rehearsal or self censorship. These are deep, gentle, and very subtle techniques of self transformation. To see a thought or feeling arise in the mind with awareness, rather than with reactivity or judgement, is the difference between heaven and hell.
Another important Zen meditation practice is Shikantaza - just sitting with open awareness of whatever experience arises. This has parallels with psychotherapy when the invitation is to literally say whatever comes to mind, without rehearsal or self censorship. These are deep, gentle, and very subtle techniques of self transformation. To see a thought or feeling arise in the mind with awareness, rather than with reactivity or judgement, is the difference between heaven and hell.
Our background as Zen Buddhist psychotherapists
Michael Apathy and Selina Clare are qualified experienced psychotherapists in private practice in Christchurch, New Zealand. Between us we have 26 years of experience practicing mindfulness and meditation, including numerous intensive retreats and five years of full time residential monastic-style training at Zen Mountain Monastery in upstate New York.
Michael has a bachelor degree in religious studies, which gives him a broad understanding of the Buddhist and other religious traditions. Selina specialises as a psychotherapist using mindfulness based therapy to treat stress and anxiety. Both of us have undertaken many years of our own personal psychotherapy and personal and spiritual development. If you're interested in or engaged with Buddhism as a spiritual or religious path, then we'd love to work with you, so please get in touch.
Michael has a bachelor degree in religious studies, which gives him a broad understanding of the Buddhist and other religious traditions. Selina specialises as a psychotherapist using mindfulness based therapy to treat stress and anxiety. Both of us have undertaken many years of our own personal psychotherapy and personal and spiritual development. If you're interested in or engaged with Buddhism as a spiritual or religious path, then we'd love to work with you, so please get in touch.