The phenomenology of koan meditation in Zen Buddhism.(Report)

Abstract

Zen students described their experiences when working with koans, and a phenomenological method was used to identify the structure of those experiences. Zen koans are statements or stories developed in China and Japan by Zen masters in order to help students transform their conscious awareness of the world. Eight participants including 3 females and 5 males from Southern California with 1 to 30 years of experience in Zen answered open-ended questions about koan practice in one tape-recorded session for each participant. Reflection yielded the following thematic clusters: (a) motivation, (b) approaches to working with koans, (c) experiences while working with koans, (d) experiences of insight into koans, (e) working with a teacher, and (f) transformation. Participants described positive transformations including better control of emotions and concentration, better awareness of prejudices and biases with the ability to suppress those types of habitual associations, and a new relation to and acceptance of spiritual questions and doubts.

Keywords

koans, meditation, phenomenology, Zen, transformation

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Psychology studies human behavior and experience in an attempt to understand the characteristics of human existence and where possible to improve the quality of life. Religions also seek to improve the quality of people's lives, although the methods may be different from those of psychology. Psychologists can help strengthen the bridge between psychology and religion through a systematic investigation of the activities and experiences of practitioners of the various religions. The current study attempts to provide a description of the experiences of those who practice koan meditation in Zen Buddhism in the hope that this information will provide some insight into the psychology of that religion.

History and Principles of Buddhism