While the process may initially seem nonsensical or paradoxical, it aims to break down preconceived notions and conventional patterns of thought. The koan poses a challenge that cannot be grasped by the ordinary mind, hence pushing the individual towards a non-conceptual understanding of reality. Koans are used as a form of meditation, where the practitioner contemplates the koan and its potential answers in order to transcend their dualistic thinking. In its application within Zen Buddhism, a koan is not so much about resolving a legal dispute as it is about eliciting a profound shift in consciousness. It is derived from two constituent elements, ‘ko’, which refers to the public nature of the case, and ‘an’, which refers to the judgement bench or the case table. This Eastern philosophical concept is used in Zen teaching and practice as a means to direct the mind towards a level of understanding that transcends conventional logic and reasoning.Įtymologically, “koan” is a transliteration of the Chinese term “gong’an”, which denotes a legal case or precedent in Tang dynasty law. Its purpose is not to propose rational thought, but rather to stimulate intuitive enlightenment or insight. Instead of making no sense, it makes perfect sense.A Koan, originating from the Zen Buddhist tradition, is a paradoxical anecdote or riddle without a solution. "The master is saying, you're so eager that you're missing the forest for the trees. "When you look at it that way, the meaning of the koan is clear," says Heine. But through his research, Heine traced the koan back to a temple in Japan called the Cypress Forest Temple, which was surrounded by cypress trees. What? On the surface, it looks like another mind game. An eager monk asks his master, "Why did Zen come to Japan from China?" The master answers, "There is a cypress tree in the courtyard." "If you immerse yourself in the context of the original tradition - which includes mythology, legends and cultural symbols from China, Japan and Korea - then you start to pick up on the obscure references," he says. While Heine admits that some koans are simply mind games designed to break our brains and force us into new ways of seeing, others are rooted in ancient traditions that are hidden to most modern readers. You will die from my pitchfork even if you do not explain it. What kinds of demons made you become a Buddhist priest? What kind of devil forced you to take up this pilgrimage? You will die from my pitchfork even if you explain it. It can take years to "solve" and the solution, as determined by the master, will vary according to what the individual student needs to learn. "Joshu's Dog" is one of the first koans presented to students of Zen Buddhism. Instead of simply saying, "Yes, every living thing has the Buddha nature," Joshu wants us to meditate night and day on the concept of "nothing" in order to think beyond "yes and no," "Buddha or no Buddha" and connect with something universally true. The koan is a way of "completely uproot all the normal workings of one's mind," wrote Mumon. Indeed your ego-shell suddenly is crushed, you can shake heaven and earth. As a fruit ripening in season, your internality and externality spontaneously become one. Then, all the useless knowledge you have diligently learned until now is thrown away. It is neither nothingness, nor its relative "not" of "is" and "is not." It must be like gulping a hot iron ball that you can neither swallow nor spit out. into this question of what "Mu" is day and night, without ceasing, hold it before you. Would you like to pass through this barrier? Then concentrate your whole body. This is why it is called the Gateless Gate of Zen. The story is a means to an end."įor the pursuit of Zen, you must pass through the barriers (gates) set up by the Zen masters. "The koan is an instrument to get you from un-enlightenment to enlightenment," says Heine, "But it's more about the interaction you have with your teacher than the story itself. That's why koans often seem contradictory, paradoxical and downright random. Zen masters use koans to startle and disarm their students, and shake them from their spiritual slumber. While every wisdom tradition uses stories to teach moral and spiritual truths (Jesus, for example, taught using parables), there's something different about a koan. "Two or more individuals have a brief exchange - which can include words, gestures, even silence - and through that encounter, some kind of ignorance is exposed and understanding is revealed." "A koan is basically an encounter dialogue," says Heine. There are hundreds and hundreds of koans, but each one tells the story of a brief interaction - usually between a student and a teacher, but sometimes two teachers, or a teacher and a rival - that results in a sudden flash of insight. The best tool for peeling back those layers is the koan.
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