The Blockages to Kensho Spiritual Awakenings: A Mixed Methods Study

Six primary blockages to kensho—a Zen enlightenment experience—emerged from interviews with 13 retreat participants who did not achieve it despite optimal conditions including Charles Berner's self-inquiry protocol and access to psychedelic medicines. The blockages are delusion and confusion, strong emotions, blockages, seeking externally, searching for something greater, and belief in something greater. Qualitative comparative analysis identified seeking externally and the ego's need for control and the necessity of surrender as the most significant barriers. The absence of psychedelics as a factor in not achieving kensho did not appear in the analysis, shifting focus from external to internal processes.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Kensho, a Zen concept denoting enlightenment, reflects a transformative realization of one’s true nature. This study explores the blockages to kensho using a mixed-methods approach, with a specific focus on Charles Berner’s self-inquiry protocol. The first phase of the research involved interviews with 13 participants who did not achieve a kensho during a retreat, despite optimal conditions including Berner’s protocol and access to psychedelic medicines historically associated with facilitating awakenings. Six primary blockages to kensho emerged: (1) delusion and confusion, (2) strong emotions, (3) blockages, (4) seeking externally, (5) searching for something greater, and (6) belief in something greater. The second study relied on qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) to identify the most significant blockages to kensho from these categories. The main contribution to knowledge of this research is demonstrating that seeking externally and the ego’s need for control and the necessity of surrender in awakening are the most important blockages to kensho. This research is important as it underscores the need to shift focus from external to internal processes to overcome barriers to awakening. Notably, the study found that the absence of psychedelics as an input variable to a kensho not being present did not materialize in the QCA investigations. KEYWORDS: Kensho, enlightenment, self-inquiry, awakening, psychedelics.