Japanese Zen and the Zen priest's function has largely been reduced to officiating at funerals, a practice sarcastically referred to in Japan as . For example, the Sōtō school published statistics stating that 80 percent of laity visited temples only for reasons having to do with funerals and death. Mahayana Buddhism teaches śūnyatā, "emptiness", which is also emphasized by Zen. But another important doctrine is the buddha-nature, the idea that all human beings have the possibility to awaken. All living creatures are supposed to have the Buddha-nature, but don't realize this as long as they are not awakened. The doctrine of an
White Collar Zen White Collar Zen White Collar Zen is a project by Steven Heine, who is primarily known for his research on medieval Japanese religion and society. The project deals with the principles of Zen Buddhism in relation to the contemporary workplace and professional leadership issues. "White Collar Zen" demonstrates how to incorporate Zen principles into daily work life in order to achieve professional success. In addition to the book – "White Collar Zen: Using Zen Principles to Overcome Obstacles and Achieve Your Goal" (Oxford University Press, 2005) – White Collar Zen is a multi-faceted project that includes a unique course on