Zen and Depression

(Note: A discussion yesterday with a Zen student who’s dealing with clinical depression prompted me to post this chapter of my book Kill Your Self: Life After Ego .)

Image: Banksy

Sometimes people ask me if Zen practice can cure depression. I tell them it can no more cure a mental illness than a physical illness, and I encourage them to look into counseling and medication. I also encourage them to read the book The Zen Path Through Depression by Philip Martin.

Zen probably won’t solve a sin...