Naikan: A Method of Self-reflection

Naikan is a Japanese word which means “inside looking” or “introspection”. A more poetic translation is “seeing oneself with the mind’s eye”. It is a structured method of self-reflection that helps us to understand ourselves, our relationships and the fundamental nature of human existence. Naikan was developed by Yoshimoto Ishin, a devout Buddhist of the Jodo Shinshu sect in Japan. His strong religious spirit led him to practice mishirabe, an arduous and difficult method of meditation. Wishing to make such introspection available to others, he developed Naikan as a method that could be more widely practiced.

“Man need only divert his attention from searching for the solution to external questions and pose the one, true inner question of how he should lead his life, and all the external questions will be resolved in the best possible way.”
Leo Tolstoy

The profound impact Naikan had on many individuals resulted in its use in other areas of Japanese society. Today, there are about 40 Naikan centers in Japan and Naikan is used in mental health counseling, addiction treatment, rehabilitation of prisoners, schools, and business. It has also taken root in Europe, with Naikan centers now established in Austria and Germany. The ToDo Institute has been offering Naikan programs and retreats since 1989.

Naikan broadens our view of reality. It’s as if, standing on top of a mountain, we shift from a zoom lens to a wide-angle lens. Now we can appreciate the broader panorama - our former perspective still included, but accompanied by much that had been hidden. And that which was hidden makes the view extraordinary.

More about Naikan...

The ToDo Institute’s Naikan Offerings

A Month of Self-Reflection
A long-distance learning program based on Naikan.
Naikan Retreats
Learn more about the ToDo Institute’s Self-Reflection Naikan Retreat.
Naikan articles
Read articles related to gratitude and self-reflection in the ToDo’s Internet Library of Japanese Psychology.

Naikan: Gratitude, Grace and the Japanese Art of Self-Reflection

By Gregg Krech (Stone Bridge Press, 2002).

This is the most comprehensive book on Naikan available and was awarded Spirituality & Health Magazine’s “Best Books of 2002” book award. Read a sample Naikan essay from the book.

Order the book from the ToDo Institute’s on-line bookstore. Correspondence can be sent to Gregg Krech.

Feature Interview on Naikan

A feature interview with Gregg Krech on Naikan appears in the December 2004 issue of THE SUN magazine.