What is a koan? A koan is a riddle, paradox, or short story used in the Zen tradition. Provoke deep reflection and break through habitual patterns of rational thought. Koans often appear to have no logical solution. They are designed to lead the practitioner to a direct experience of reality or a state of awareness beyond dualistic thinking. They are used as tools for meditation and spiritual practice, aimed at helping practitioners reach a deeper understanding of their true nature and of reality.
The Hōkyō Zanmai poem, the Samadhi of the Precious Mirror, invites us to discover reality just as it is: intimate, complete and impossible to separate from ourselves. In this Zen meditation workshop, while sitting in zazen, we will listen to the verses attributed to Master Dongshan Liangjie and allow the image of the mirror to…
The Xinxinming, the poem of faith in mind, invites us to stop being trapped between what we desire and what we reject. In this meditation workshop, we will listen to Master Sengcan’s poem while seated in zazen, allowing its verses to penetrate our minds. Listening to this poem during zazen opens the doors of nonduality…
This Bright pearl koan is one of the many paradoxical stories or enigmas that form part of the Zen tradition. Koans are used in Zen practice to help practitioners transcend rational thought and access a deeper understanding of their true nature and reality. Origin and Meaning of the Bright Pearl Koan of Ikka This koan…
Genjokoan: A Zen Meditation Workshop The Genjokoan is a text written by the Japanese Zen master Eihei Dōgen, who in the 13th century introduced the Sōtō Zen school of Buddhism in Japan. Genjokoan can be translated as “Realization of the Present Moment” or “Awakening with the Whole Universe.” Shobogenzo The Genjokoan is a chapter from…
The Fox in Zen Stories To understand the koan of the fox, it is helpful to begin with this story. Once, while a Zen master was walking through the forest, he encountered a wild fox. The fox begged him to accept her into his community so that she could become a nun and study the…
What is a koan? In the zazen shin koan meditation, we will introduce the koan “polishing a tile.” A koan is a riddle used in Zen practice to help students transcend logic and attain a deeper understanding of reality. Koans are part of Zen teaching and serve as tools to provoke an experience of enlightenment…
The meditation with koan “Mu” is one of the most well-known koans within the Zen tradition. A koan is a kind of riddle or paradoxical question used in Zen practice to induce the awakening of the mind. The koan “Mu” has its origin in a dialogue between Master Joshu and one of his disciples. Koan…
