Zen Buddhism and the Phenomenology of Mysticism

Abstract In this paper, I use a comparative analysis of mysticism in Zen and the Abrahamic faiths to formulate a phenomenological account of mysticism “as such.” I argue that, while Zen Buddhism is distinct from other forms of mystical experience in important ways, it can still be fit into a general...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Bailey, Dylan S. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2021
In: Journal for continental philosophy of religion
Year: 2021, Volume: 3, Issue: 2, Pages: 123-143
Further subjects:B Phenomenology
B Zen Buddhism
B Mysticism
B Comparative Religion
B Satori
Online Access: Presumably Free Access
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Summary:Abstract In this paper, I use a comparative analysis of mysticism in Zen and the Abrahamic faiths to formulate a phenomenological account of mysticism “as such.” I argue that, while Zen Buddhism is distinct from other forms of mystical experience in important ways, it can still be fit into a general phenomenological category of mystical experience. First, I explicate the phenomenological accounts of mysticism provided by Anthony Steinbock and Angela Bello. Second, I offer an account of Zen mysticism which both coheres with and problematizes these accounts, arguing that Zen demonstrates the inadequacy of these accounts as descriptions of mysticism as a universal religious category. Lastly, I use this investigation to propose that Zen mysticism does generally cohere with the mystical experiences of other religions, but only if we devise a new formula for speaking phenomenologically about mystical experience as such which captures this phenomenon in all of its manifestations.
ISSN:2588-9613
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal for continental philosophy of religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/25889613-bja10014