Obsessions and Compulsions: Zen Buddhism Help or Hurt?

Obsessions and compulsions, we all have them. Does Buddhism help or hurt those trying to learn how to live life without being controlled by their obsessions and compulsions? Zen Buddhism can be a very orderly and defined practice. Zen Buddhism is often regimented, or at least many practitioners and teachers practice that way. Our discussion today is whether Zen Buddhism supports recovery of obsessions and compulsions or the actual obsessions and compulsions themselves? Obsession and compulsions Zen Buddhism have a unique relationship, let’s explore together.

We All Have Some – Obsessions and Compulsions Zen Buddhism

Whether it be cleaning counters, filing papers, stacking dishes or washing our hands repeatedly, we all have obsessions and compulsions. Many people turn to the practice of Zen Buddhism to learn how to manage their obsessions and compulsions. Zen Buddhism attracts people with obsessions and compulsions because it offers a very specific system of practicing meditation. This makes sense. One of the reasons I began my journey with meditation 25 years ago was for this exact reason. My life was controlled by my obsessions and compulsions. I desperately needed to change the way my mind organized and processed life. At the core of addiction, obsessions and compulsions can rule an addict’s mind and behavior. Who wants to be controlled by their obsessions and compulsions? This is what attracted me to meditation. I wanted relieve from my obsessions and compulsions.

Jack Nicholson – Obsessions and Compulsions: Zen Buddhism

Teachers – Obsessions and Compulsions: Zen Buddhism

If you have ever had the opportunity to practice Zen Buddhism, regardless of what school of Zen Buddhism, there is typically an exact system of how to meditate. This is my experience with Zen Buddhism throughout East Asia – Japan, China and Korea. It is funny in retrospect, my impression of Zen Buddhism before I actually received any training. Zen Buddhism was more like free-spirited hippies than practitioners sitting and staring at walls for long periods of time without movement or sound. Zen teachers instruct students on correct form beginning your meditation training. At the time when I was first beginning to learn and practice meditation. Meditation centers and teachers were not as accessible as they are today. Initially I learned from books and audio tapes.

A couple of years later I had the opportunity to receive training from Khen Rinpoche Geshe Kachen Lobzang Tsetan, a Tibetan monk and teacher. He is the Abbot of Dalai Lama‘s Temple in India. When he and other monks and teachers at the Tibetan Buddhist Learning Center in Washington, New Jersey instructed beginners like me in meditation, they offered clear insight into the correct methods. These teachers allowed space and time for new students to become comfortable with the practice at their own pace. Compassion was more clear than correction. Please do not misunderstand what I’m trying to communicate. I am not saying that Tibetan Buddhism is better than Zen Buddhism or any other system of meditation. I am just offering a contrast in styles of teaching beginners meditation.

My meditation practice today is a combination of many systems and forms including QiGong, Reiki, Buddhist, Quaker, Catholic, Sufi, Kabbalah, Taoist and I am sure some new age teachings have found their way into my practice as well. This list is not inclusive. There are many styles and forms that I have learned practicing with others and through my Inner Teacher intuitively. My experience demonstrates that consistent meditation practice creates space for our Inner Teacher. We can read all the books, watch all the videos and take part in as many workshops as we want, eventually, we have to sit and practice to allow our Inner Teacher to be our primary source of instruction for meditation and life. I sense this is essential. In observing and practicing with others who have not allowed their belly or Inner Teacher to train them in meditation and life, they stay stuck in their system and their obsessions and compulsions seem to get louder, not softer. This is not true for everyone. I am speaking about those who believe that applying their obsessions and compulsions to their spiritual practice will magically make their obsessions and compulsions disappear.

Spiritual Discipline vs. Self Discipline

My teacher speaks about the difference between spiritual discipline and self-discipline. Spiritual discipline is listening to our belly and doing what need to do when we need to do it. Self discipline is listening to our intellect, emotions or ego telling us what to do. An example of self-discipline would be someone who meditates every morning at 730 no matter what’s happening or what they need, or what their life situation calls for. Spiritual discipline is listening to your belly or Inner Teacher, is now the right time to meditate, if not, when is the right time and what do I need to do right now at this moment.

Self-discipline is easier than spiritual discipline but does not offer the same spiritual and mental growth or development. I sense this is where many people get stuck in their obsessions and compulsions instead of developing a more balanced method of interacting with the world. Simply put, if your obsessions and compulsions are in charge of your meditation and spiritual practices, how can you let go of them? Or as my teacher often asks, “Who’s in charge here?”

As someone who lives, practices and is director of a Zen Buddhist Temple, it might seem like a contradiction. This is not true. Zen Buddhism offers all the tools necessary for creating a balanced and healthy life. I have met and practiced with many wonderful and incredible Zen Buddhist practitioners! Zen Buddhism is not the problem, just like Catholicism or Islam are not the problem. The problem is and always has been us, we are the problem. As long as we are relying on control, obsessions and compulsions to dictate our thoughts, emotions and actions, we will suffer. Those around us will suffer. Our environment will suffer.

If you are having a hard time identifying how obsessions and compulsions run your life. I invite you to turn off your headphones and screens when you are at the gym working out. I encourage you to see those around you exercising. Notice those who are tight and seem desperate on the stairmaster or elliptical machine. Observe who gets a fresh cleaning cloth after every single exercise machine they use, instead of using one to clean after several machines while still wet. Watch the rituals of beginning and ending exercise. Do you see anything alive and creative? Intuitive or spontaneous? Healthy? Is anything in charge besides their obsessions and compulsions about how they way they want to look or feel?

I recently began taking a QiGong class at Way Of The Dragon in East Providence with Master Wu. He is an amazing Teacher and an excellent class. I appreciate his ability to make it feel like you can be successful at practicing QiGong regardless of experience or anything else. He does not create an environment where students feel bad about not being able to replicate the exercises. Master Wu reminds us, “Just relax, no worries.” or “You can do this. No problem”. When giving the class homework practice, he makes it very simple and clear that it will only take five minutes a day. He knows those who want to go deeper with the practice will merge exercises from earlier classes. Those who want to just get a taste of QiGong can commit to five minutes a day. He has not once corrected any student in the class for not executing an exercise properly. Master Wu does not stare at anyone who is not giving 100%. It is an environment that supports learning and wanting to integrate QiGong into your life. I am grateful to be a student in Master Wu’s QiGong class and that I have an opportunity to improve my own skills as a Teacher from his model.

Master Wu does not stare at anyone who is not giving 100%. It is an environment that supports learning and wanting to integrate QiGong into your life. I am grateful to be a student in Master Wu’s QiGong class and that I have an opportunity to improve my own skills as a Teacher from his model.

I am interested in hearing your experiences with obsessions and compulsions in Zen Buddhism? Have you met a controlling meditation teacher that destroyed your motivation to learn or practice meditation or Zen?

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