A Koans is a question or short dialogue. Koans are used as a method of training or bypassing the mind in order to achieve the state of Satori. Satori is the goal of all Zen mediation, it can be thought of as getting an instant insight into the nature of reality, that is available to you now; you don’t need to spend a 100 lifetimes in a monastery under the feet of guru’s.

Koans and Satori are the central aspects of Zen; one leads to the other by breaking down the barrier to enlightenment. The barrier is the mind. This does not mean that that Zen masters achieve a state of insanity or a state below mind, for example, by getting drunk! Satori is about getting beyond the mind.

The purpose of a Koan is to open your perception of the truth. Koans are questions or riddles designed as instruments to finding the truth behind the everyday images of reality.

Koans are not rational questions with rational answers. Koans are NOT answered; that would again engage the mind, which is our problem.

Koans are designed for one purpose; they act as a catalyst to awakening our true/deep/pure nature. They can help to awaken the awareness that is hidden behind the mind and the five senses that the mind uses to make its habitual responses to the world and reality.

The Zen master Dogen said that in order to perceive reality we must “drop mind and body”.

A Koan like “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” can only be answered if you drop mind and body. This is the aim of the Koan, it frees you from the prison of the mind and the five senses. Think of it as a path or way to go home, to go home to the source, to return to the ‘original face before you were born’.

Although Koans are not answered, a response is given, because there is an answer. The answer to ‘what is the sound of one hand clapping ‘ is SILENCE: the pure silence that permeates the universe, the Tao itself. But this response is not what the Koan is asking for; this response is only a pointer, if taken literally it is already long dead. The Koan is asking you to feel this silence in every fiber of your being, and once this is directly experienced, to manifest a token of your experience. In other words, recognise the pointer or the symbol and follow it to where it is pointing, follow it to the source.

After you have reached home, experienced the oneness, then you express it in someway in duality by giving a pure reflection of the one life that the pointer points to. This is what the Koan is asking for. Can you do it?

The historical Buddha is said to have held up the lotus flower before an assemblage of followers and spoke not a word. It is said that all remained silent and puzzled except for his disciple Venerable Kasho who is said to have smiled in recognition.

What was transmitted when the Buddha held up a flower?

“Don’t explain it, show me your understanding!” is what a Zen master shout. To do so you must at once become the Buddha, Kasho, and the Lotus!

What is Zen?

The Monk Mayo asked this question of the Sixth patriarch: “What is Zen?”.

The Patriarch replied: “When your mind is not dwelling on the dualism of good and evil, what is your original face before you were born?”

What is the Way?

A Master who lived as a hermit on a mountain was asked by a monk,

“What is the Way?”
“What a fine mountain this is,” the master said in reply.
“I am not asking you about the mountain, but about the Way.”
“So long as you cannot go beyond the mountain, my son, you cannot reach the Way,” replied the master.

If I eat rice

The student Doken was told to go on a long journey to another monastery. He was much upset, because he felt that this trip would interrupt his studies for many months. So he said to his friend, the advanced student Sogen:

“Please ask permission to come with me on the trip. There are so many things I do not know; but if you come along we can discuss them – in this way I can learn as we travel.”

“All right,” said Sogen. “But let me ask you a question: If you are hungry, what satisfaction to you if I eat rice? If your feet are lame, what comfort to you if I go on merrily? If your bladder is full, what relief to you if I piss?”

Every Day Is a Good Day

Unmon said: “I do not ask you about fifteen days ago. But what about fifteen days hence? Come, say a word about this!”

Since none of the monks answered, he answered for them: “Every day is a good day.”

No Cold and Heat

A monk asked Tozan, “How can we escape the cold and heat?” Tozan replied, “Why not go where there is no cold and heat?” “Is there such a place?” the monk asked. Tozan commented, “When cold, be thoroughly cold; when hot, be hot through and through.

The Short Staff

Shuzan held out his short staff and said, “If you call this a short staff, you oppose its reality. If you do not call it a short staff, you ignore the fact. Now what do you wish to call this?”

Joshu’s Mu

Joshu (A.D. 778-897) was a famous Chinese Zen Master who lived in Joshu, the province from which he took his name. One day a troubled monk approached him, intending to ask the Master for guidance. A dog walked by. The monk asked Joshu, “Has that dog a Buddha-nature or not?” The monk had barely completed his question when Joshu shouted: “MU!”

Seijo’s Two Souls

Chokan had a very beautiful daughter named Seijo. He also had a handsome young cousin named Ochu. Joking, he would often comment that they would make a fine married couple. Actually, he planned to give his daughter in marriage to another man. But young Seijo and Ochu took him seriously; they fell in love and thought themselves engaged. One day Chokan announced Seijo’s betrothal to the other man. In rage and despair, Ochu left by boat. After several days journey, much to his astonishment and joy he discovered that Seijo was on the boat with him!

They went to a nearby city where they lived for several years and had two children. But Seijo could not forget her father; so Ochu decided to go back with her and ask the father’s forgiveness and blessing. When they arrived, he left Seijo on the boat and went to the father’s house. he humbly apologized to the father for taking his daughter away and asked forgiveness for them both.

“What is the meaning of all this madness?” the father exclaimed. Then he related that after Ochu had left, many years ago, his daughter Seijo had fallen ill and had lain comatose in bed since. Ochu assured him that he was mistaken, and, in proof, he brought Seijo from the boat. When she entered, the Seijo lying ill in bed rose to meet her, and the two became one.

Zen Master Goso, referring to the legend, observed, “Seijo had two souls, one always sick at home and the other in the city, a married woman with two children. Which was the true soul?”

Bells and Robes

Zen Master Unmon said: “The world is vast and wide. Why do you put on your robes at the sound of a bell?”

Ganto’s Two Meals

Kisan paid a visit to Ganto, who was living in quiet seclusion, and asked, “Brother, are you getting two meals regularly?” “The fourth son of the Cho family supports me, and I am very much obliged to him,” said Ganto. “If you do not do your part well, you will be born as an ox in the next life and will have to repay him for what you owed him in this life,” Kisan cautioned.

Ganto put his fists on his forehead but said nothing. “If you mean horns,” Kisan said, “you must stick out your fingers on top of your head.” But before he finished speaking, Ganto shouted, “Hey!” Kisan did not understand his meaning and said, “If you know something deeper, why don’t you explain it to me?” Ganto hissed at him and said, “You have been studying Buddhism for thirty years, as I have, and you are still wandering around. I have nothing to do with you. Just get out.” And with these words he shut the door in Kisan’s face.

The fourth son of the Cho family happened to be passing by and, out of pity, took Kisan to his home. “Thirty years ago we were close friends,” Kisan said sorrowfully, “but now he has attained something higher than I have and will not impart it to me.”

That night Kisan could not sleep. He got up and went to Ganto’s house. “Brother,” he implored, “please be kind and preach the Dharma for me.” Ganto opened the door and disclosed the teaching. The next morning Kisan returned home, happy with attainment.

Bodhidharma and the Emperor Wu

Emperor Wu of China was a very benevolent Buddhist. He built many temples and monasteries, educated many monks, and performed countless philanthropic deeds in the name of Buddhism. He asked the great teacher Bodhidharma, “What merit is there in my good works?” Bodhidharma replied, “None whatsoever.” The Emperor then asked, “What is the Primal meaning of Holy Reality?” Bodhidharma answered, “Emptiness, not holiness.” The Emperor then queried, “Who, then, is this confronting me?” “I do not know,” was Bodhidharma’s reply. Since the Emperor did not understand, Bodhidharma left his kingdom.

Later, the Emperor related this conversation to an adviser, Prince Shiko. Shiko reprimanded him, saying that Bodhidharma was a great teacher possessed of the highest truth. The Emperor, filled with regret, dispatched a messenger to entreat Bodhidharma to return. But Shiko warned, “Even if all the people in the land went, that one will never return.”

Returning to the Ordinary World

A monk asked Kegon, “How does an enlightened one return to the ordinary world?” Kegon replied, “A broken mirror never reflects again; fallen flowers never go back to the old branches.”

No Beard

Wakuan complained when he saw a picture of bearded Bodhidharma, “Why hasn’t that fellow a beard?”

Everything is Best

One day Banzan was walking through a market. He overheard a customer say to the butcher, “Give me the best piece of meat you have.” “Everything in my shop is the best,” replied the butcher. “You can not find any piece of meat that is not the best.” At these words, Banzan was enlightened.

Manjusri Enters the Gate

One day as Manjusri stood outside the gate, the Buddha called to him, “Manjusri, Manjusri, why do you not enter?” Manjusri replied, “I do not see myself as outside. Why enter?”

Where to Meet after Death

Dogo paid a visit to his sick fellow monk, Ungan. “Where can I see you again if you die and leave only your corpse?” Dogo asked. “I will meet you where nothing dies,” Ungan replied. Dogo criticized his response saying, “What you should have said is that there is no place where nothing is born and nothing dies and that we need not see each other at all.”

A Philosopher Asks Buddha

A philosopher asked Buddha: “Without words, without silence, will you tell me the truth?” The Buddha sat quietly. The philosopher then bowed and thanked the Buddha, saying, “With your loving kindness I have cleared away my delusions and entered the true path.” After the philosopher had gone, Ananda asked Buddha what the philosopher had attained. The Buddha commented, “A good horse runs even at the shadow of the whip.”

Jizo’s Buddhism

One day, Jizo received one of Hofuku’s disciples and asked him, “How does your teacher instruct you?” “My teacher instructs me to shut my eyes and see no evil thing; to cover my ears and hear no evil sound; to stop my mind-activities and form no wrong ideas,” the monk replied. “I do not ask you to shut your eyes,” Jizo said, “but you do not see a thing. I do not ask you to cover your ears, but you do not hear a sound. I do not ask you to cease your mind-activities, but you do not form any idea at all.”

The Southern Mountain

Sekiso lived and taught on the Southern Mountain, and Kankei lived and taught on the Northern Mountain. One day, a monk came from the Northern Monastery to the Southern Monastery in search of teaching. Sekiso said to him, “My Southern Monastery is no better than the Monastery in the North.” The monk did not know what reply to make. When he returned to Kankei and told him the story, Kankei said, “You should have told him that I am ready to enter Nirvana any day.”

The Girl Comes Out of Meditation

Once upon a time, Manjusri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, went to an assemblage of Buddhas. By the time he arrived, all had departed except for the Buddha Sakyamuni and one girl. She was seated in a place of highest honor, deep in meditation. Manjusri asked the Buddha how it was possible for a mere girl to attain a depth of mediation that even he could not attain. The Buddha said, “Bring her out of meditation and ask her yourself.”

So Manjusri walked around the girl three times [a gesture of reverence], then snapped his fingers. She remained deep in meditation. He then tried rousing her by invoking all his magic powers; he even transported her to a high heaven. All was to no avail, so deep was her concentration. But suddenly, up from below the earth sprang Momyo, an unenlightened one. He snapped his fingers once, and the girl came out of her meditation.

The Real Way Is Not Difficult

Joshu addressed an assembly of monks:

“The Real Way is not difficult;, but it dislikes the Relative. If there is but little speech, it is about the Relative or it is about the Absolute. This old monk is not within the Absolute. Do you value this or not?”

A monk said to him, “If you are not within the Absolute, how can you judge its value?”

Joshu said, “Neither do I know that.”

The monk argued, “Your Reverence, if you do not yet know, how is it that you say you are not within the Absolute?”

Joshu said, “Your questioning is effective. Finish your worship and leave.”

The Turtle in the Garden

A monk saw a turtle in the garden of Daizui’s monastery and asked the teacher, “All beings cover their bones with flesh and skin. Why does this being cover its flesh and skin with bones?”

Master Daizui took off one of his sandals and covered the turtle with it.

The Temple

One day Hofuku said to his disciples, “When one passes behind the temple, he meets Chang and Li, but he does not see anyone in front of it. Why is this? Which of the two roads is better?”

A monk answered, “Something must be wrong with the sight. Nothing is gained without seeing.”

The Master scolded the monk, saying, “Stupid, the temple is always like this.”

The monk said, “If it were not the temple, one should see something.”

The Master said, “I am talking about the temple and nothing else.”

Lotus Blossoms and Leaves

A monk asked Chimon, “Before the lotus blossom has emerged from the water, what is it?”

Chimon said, “A lotus blossom.”

The monk pursued, “After it has come out of the water, what is it?”

Chimon replied, “Lotus leaves.”

These koans are taken from the book Zen Koans by Venerable Gyomay Kubose copyright © 1973; published by Henry Regnery Company.