There is a form to use in the interview room, involving bows and prostrations. If we practice sincerely, the kong-an interview will take care of itself. The kong-an will often come up naturally during practice and in our life, so there is no need to make a special effort to hold it. Our kong-an practice has two functions: it helps us keep the correct direction of our practice-only don’t know-and it helps our wisdom to grow. Some schools recommend using the kong-an as the single-pointed focus of meditation. Some kong-ans go back over 1500 years, others are created spontaneously by the teacher right there in the interview room. Sometimes the kong-an and the question are the same, for example: “The whole universe is on fire through what kind of samadhi can you escape from being burned?”Īssociated with kong-ans are short commentaries, sometimes in the form of poems. Then there are questions connected with the kong-an, for example: “Does a dog have Buddha nature?” Here’s a famous example: A monk asked Joju, “Does a dog have Buddha nature?” Joju answered “Mu.” The kong-an is an experiential tool that helps us cut through our thinking so that we can just perceive and function clearly. Kong-ans are probably best known for the unusual, seemingly non-rational quality of their questions, language and dialogues, and are not meant to be studied, analyzed or approached conceptually. Thus is the person of the Way.An important part of kong-an practice is the private exchange between teacher and student wherein the teacher checks the student’s grasp of the point of the kong-an. Gyosen said: “Heaven and earth answer no practical purpose, yet embrace all things. Manjusri replied, “I do not see myself as outside. One day as Manjusri stood outside the gate, the Buddha called to him, “Manjusri, Manjusri, why do you not enter?” Haryo said, “An open-eyed man falling into the well.” “You can not find any piece of meat that is not the best.”Ī monk asked Master Haryo, “What is the way?” “Everything in my shop is the best,” replied the butcher. He overheard a customer say to the butcher, “Give me the best piece of meat you have.” One day Banzan was walking through a market. When the many are reduced to one, to what is the one reduced? Kegon replied, “A broken mirror never reflects again fallen flowers never go back to the old branches.” When you can do nothing, what can you do?Ī monk asked Kegon, “How does an enlightened one return to the ordinary world?” What is your original face before your parents were born? The 8th century Chinese Zen Master, whose Japanese name is Jôshû, is asked by a monk whether or not a dog has the Buddha nature. When ideas about the koan pop into your awareness throughout the day explore these ideas This Koan is one of the oldest and most famous of the Zen Koans although the sound of one hand clapping is probably known more popularly.Allow yourself to ask questions about the koan without needing an answer.Now one of Americas finest translators of. Don’t try to hard to figure the koan out or find an answer. Elusive and enigmatic, zen koans have long puzzled people with their surprise meanings hidden in simple tales.Practice sitting in a quiet space, writing down your koan and journaling your ideas and exploration.Try sitting with a koan as a way to spark creativity and welcome fluid inspiration.

Zen disease, the stink of zen, grows a field of weeds.

Mix it up, try practicing your koan before meditation as a way to open your mind and try practicing your koan after meditation as a workout for your mind. In fact the furthest zen got in that direction was 'contemplating the phrase' but even that may have contributed to the downfall of the the zen tradition in China.Take some time to interpret the koan in multiple ways, it’s okay to misunderstand it and to reword the koan – this is all a part of exploration.Instead of researching about the koan allow it into your life and allow meaning to unravel. Repeat the koan throughout the week and move into relationship with the words, the story and the imagery.Bring the Koan with you throughout the day, seek an understanding in more than your meditation time, allow the realizations to present themselves and arise in daily life Ponder your koan as you walk and travel throughout your day.If your mind wanders mindfully bring your awareness back to the koan. Allow ideas to float around in your consciousness and grow from one another as you explore the koan. Try holding this koan in your mind during a meditative state. Sit in a quiet space as you would for meditation.Notice a koan that you’re particularly drawn to – this is the koan you’ll be working with. Using a Koan is about being present and opening your mind until deeper truths present themselves and intuitively settle in. It’s important to remember to be kind to yourself, there is no strategy or mind training to using a koan. When using a Koan you’re aim isn’t to figure anything out or work out the answer, there is no goal to reach.

Zen koan meaning