Jill Kaplan, MA, LMFT, CST-T
Journal of Sandplay Therapy
Volume 14, Issue 1, 2005
Keywords
sandplay therapy, clinical example, domestic violence, sexual abuse, Zen, Koan, witnessing, knowing, not knowing, children, child, competitiveness
Abstract
The author compares the experience of witnessing sandplay process with that of a Zen student working with a koan, or teaching story. The author selects a koan which contrasts “knowing” with “not knowing” in relation to awakening, or enlightenment. This “knowing” and “not knowing” is analogous to the sandplay therapist’s need to remain open to possibility while knowing as much as possible about image and symbol. The author then uses first trays of 3 patients to exemplify the idea of holding the work in the sand in a place of “not knowing.”
Suggested Citation
Kaplan, J. (2005). Knowing and not knowing: Sandplay as Zen koan. Journal of Sandplay Therapy, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.61711/jst.2005.14.1.866
