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Zen Koans as Myths Reflecting Individuation

Abstract Individuation, the process of human development, was frequently cited by Jung and was of obvious importance in his conception of analytic work. Individuation has also been frequently cited in works comparing and contrasting Jungian psychology and Buddhism. However, rather than comparing or contrasting Jungian analysis and Buddhism, in this article, Jung's methods of seeking wisdom in myth are applied to Zen koans to explore the process of individuation. Koans, stories of encounters between Zen practitioners, are myth-like in their ancient history and resonance across time and culture. Their concise form is rich with archetypal imagery, which, in some stories, provides perspective on the process of individuation. In this article, koans are shown to identify and emphasize the experience of individuation, rather than its intellectual conceptualization. The paper also discusses the limits of the clinical application of using koans as myths to inform the process of individuation, as exemplified by their emphasis on personal transformation rather than relational issues.