"Pots, Pans, and Practice"

Chapter (Faculty180)

cited authors

  • Pryor, Ashley E

description

  • <p><strong>Abstract</strong></p> <p>This study examines the convergent philosophical approaches of thirteenth-century Zen master Dōgen and first-century Stoic philosopher Epictetus regarding the spiritual significance of ordinary material objects. Through comparative analysis of primary texts—Dōgen's <em>Tenzo Kyōkun</em> and Epictetus' <em>Enchiridion</em>—this research demonstrates how both traditions developed sophisticated practices using household items as vehicles for spiritual development, despite being separated by eleven centuries and distinct cultural contexts.</p> <p>The analysis reveals that Dōgen's kitchen-based teachings transform routine food preparation into contemplative practice through non-dual awareness, treating cooking implements as "dharma gates" to enlightenment. Epictetus employed domestic objects in "spiritual exercises" designed to cultivate emotional resilience and mental clarity, particularly through his ceramic cup meditation and "two handles" framework for managing external circumstances.</p> <p>Building on Pierre Hadot's scholarship on ancient philosophy as spiritual practice, this study argues that both traditions offer practical alternatives to contemporary technological distraction and what Byung-Chul Han terms "hyperattention." The research demonstrates how mindful engagement with material reality can develop "contemplative agency"—the capacity for intentional response rather than reactive behavior.</p> <p>These findings contribute to understanding how ancient wisdom traditions employed concrete material practices to address universal human challenges, offering relevant methodologies for contemporary practitioners seeking to integrate spiritual development with ordinary domestic life while maintaining psychological equilibrium in an increasingly fragmented attention economy.</p>

authors

publication date

  • 2026

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