An analysis of the interaction between zazen and meditation in the Catholic tradition

Different forms of Buddhism have migrated to Great Britain and there is a great deal of curiosity about them. Catholics, not just in Great Britain but throughout much of the English-speaking world, have shown much interest, particularly since the second Vatican Council. Zazen, a form of meditation that is practised in Zen Buddhism, is of interest to a growing number of Christians. As a non-Christian practice, however, is zazen in harmony with Catholic teaching as set out in magisterial documents? The thesis addresses two key questions: (1) To what extent is Zen Buddhist spirituality compatible with Catholic thought and tradition? (2) To what extent do magisterial documents enable a Catholic to participate in the meditation methods of a non-Christian belief system, in this case, Zen Buddhism? The thesis responds to these two questions by reflection on scholarly literature, the study of magisterial documents and the conducting of a series of one-to-one interviews with both Christians and Zen Buddhists. I had originally intended to carry out these interviews in person but the beginning of this stage of my research coincided with the onset, and subsequent spread, of the coronavirus outbreak. The interviews were, therefore, conducted instead through on-line conference platforms such as Zoom. At the heart of this thesis is a theological analysis of three issues of contemporary interest. These are 1) the nature of jukai and its overlap with Catholic sacraments of initiation 2) Zen Buddhist-Catholic interreligious relationships: dialogue and dual belonging, and 3) Contemplative prayer vis á vis zazen. The research is original and not only addresses a subject that is of current interest but does so in a way that distils complex theological issues into a topic of relevance to all those interested in the relationship of Catholics and non-Christian prayer.