Exploring paradox across levels of analysis in Buddhist monastic life

Paradox studies have highlighted the value of seemingly contradictory tensions. These studies argue that organizations can create a potentially generative dynamic when they acknowledge interconnectivity between contradicting elements of tensions. We were motivated in understanding paradoxical tensions by immersing ourselves in a three-month ethnographic study in one of the most revered Buddhist temples in Korea – a context that confronts a visceral tension between the need for financial sustainability and the religious values that disavow money. We report the findings at both organizational and individual levels of analysis. At the organizational level, paradox was formed through the separation of roles in organizational structure. At the individual level of analysis, Buddhist monks built a cognitive boundary to address tension in their everyday organizational life. Taking a multi-level approach revealed the challenges that individuals confront when working within organizational paradox.