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The Clinical Thinking of Bion and the Art of the Zen Garden (Ryoan–ji)

The Clinical Thinking of Bion and the Art of the Zen Garden (Ryoan–ji) It is my intention to suggest that there are several affinities between Bion's thought, in particular with such concepts as truth, absolute truth (O), the contact with O (at­one­ment), and the transformation into O, the act of faith, hallucinosis and illumination, and certain formulations referring to Zen Buddhism. These concepts can find, in turn, correspondences in the salient characteristics of the rock garden at Kyoto's Ryoan­ji temple. Bion (1970/2004) used the symbol O to design a number of overlapping concepts, which signify "ultimate reality," " absolute truth," " a thing­in­itself," "divinity," "infinite," but also--in the specific field of an analytical session--that of "facts in themselves" within the actual session (Bion, 1965/2004). Though making clear that such a truth cannot be reached, not even with a scientific method, but can only be glimpsed at (Bion, 1970/2004), Bion deems it necessary for the therapist to be "at­one" with O (at­one­ment) because only in this way will the psychoanalytical "discovery" be possible (OK ), therefore highlighting whatever will allow us to change toward emotional growth. I quote, " . . . healthy mental growth seems to depend on truth, as the living organism depends on food. If it is lacking or http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis & Dynamic Psychiatry Guilford Press

The Clinical Thinking of Bion and the Art of the Zen Garden (Ryoan–ji)

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Publisher
Guilford Press
Copyright
© The American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry
ISSN
1546-0371
DOI
10.1521/jaap.2007.35.4.659
pmid
18271731
Publisher site
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Abstract

It is my intention to suggest that there are several affinities between Bion's thought, in particular with such concepts as truth, absolute truth (O), the contact with O (at­one­ment), and the transformation into O, the act of faith, hallucinosis and illumination, and certain formulations referring to Zen Buddhism. These concepts can find, in turn, correspondences in the salient characteristics of the rock garden at Kyoto's Ryoan­ji temple. Bion (1970/2004) used the symbol O to design a number of overlapping concepts, which signify "ultimate reality," " absolute truth," " a thing­in­itself," "divinity," "infinite," but also--in the specific field of an analytical session--that of "facts in themselves" within the actual session (Bion, 1965/2004). Though making clear that such a truth cannot be reached, not even with a scientific method, but can only be glimpsed at (Bion, 1970/2004), Bion deems it necessary for the therapist to be "at­one" with O (at­one­ment) because only in this way will the psychoanalytical "discovery" be possible (OK ), therefore highlighting whatever will allow us to change toward emotional growth. I quote, " . . . healthy mental growth seems to depend on truth, as the living organism depends on food. If it is lacking or

Journal

Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis & Dynamic Psychiatry – Guilford Press

Published: Dec 1, 2007

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