Zen Counseling is based on the concept of Zen.
Westerners often ask me what is Zen.
My answer is very simple.
If it is simple, it is Zen.
If it is complicated, it is not Zen.
Our mind is full of junk thoughts.
So, it is not Zen.
LOVE is simple. So, love is Zen.
Zen is Love and any truth itself.
Kenichi Ishimaru
In Zen Counseling, we say that everyone is already a Buddha. Your client is already a Buddha. So, if that is the case, then why does the client need any counseling? What then is the role of the counselor?
ZEN Counseling helps open up the clients’ capacity to heal themselves and to solve their problems by coming in contact with their Inner Wisdom – without the counselor giving any advice.
Giving advice comes so naturally to us. If someone tell us their problem, we immediately search in our experience and past memories of facing a similar problem or having read about a similar problem. Based on that we provide some suggestions and some advice on what the person should do. But we never take the time to learn more about the context of the person. It’s like saying – If you don’t have bread, eat cake!
Each person is in a unique situation and comes from a different background. A generic solution can never solve his specific problem. Most counselors do not understand this fact. Wrong advice can destroy a client completely or take him to another direction.
Giving quick advice also belittles the immense capability of the human mind to find a solution. Moreover, a person is more likely to wholeheartedly follow a solution discovered by himself than a solution given by another person.
Zen Counseling is cognizant of these facts. Therefore, a Zen counselor will never give any advice to the client. Rather, he supports the client in finding a solution. This is done by giving space for clarification of the problem, through listening, repeating and asking questions. Once the problem is clarified, the client naturally seeks for a solution.
Most of the times, there are deeper nuances of the problem which get a chance to emerge when space is given, instead of suppressing them by applying quick solutions.
A Zen Counseling session is simple and effective. It is not complicated. Therefore, it is a true representation of Zen in action.
Yogesh Lokhande
Zen Counselor | Inner Game Coach | Spiritual Friend
Zen Counselors 