Chan Buddhist Koans
The Enlightenment Saga
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Zen Riddle #2 -fire :
How to put out a far away fire?
Here's the answer....(Show/Hide)
Want more riddles? Choose one!
#3-stars #4-boat #5-ghost mumonkan
Zen Riddle #2 -fire :
How to put out a far away fire?
Here's the answer....(Show/Hide)
Want more riddles? Choose one!
#3-stars #4-boat #5-ghost mumonkan
This is no Koan, not at all.
- The Koan stories describe strange actions of medieval Chinese monks who in one way or another became "deeply enlightened".
- Today this process is much more formalised.
- The Chan master knows the meaning of all and every Koans because (by definition) he's enlightened.
- The Chan student has to meditate hundreds of Koans in order to become enlightened himself.
- Enlightenment is said to be a sudden experienced while meditating about a Koan.
If you're just looking for Koan examples and their answers go to Chan Koans.
The reality of Chan Buddhist Koans
Like always in the realm of religion, Chan believes and faith are different from reality.
How do you answer this Koan?
- Buddhist Koans are summaries of legends about Buddhist monks in China, created, edited and first written down in 11th century.
- The legends main purpose was to prove that Buddhism is not a foreign religion but part of Chinese culture.
Read the full story of Chinese Buddhism here.
- The reality of Chan master and Chan student relationship is as murky as the origin of Koans.
- The master pretends to guide his student to enlightenment through meditating Buddhist Koans but he relationship is about power and exploitation.
- Read more about organised Chan here.
- Enlightenment isn't achieved through meditating Koans.
In reality a Chan student is declared enlightened to establish a new Chan community to enlarge his masters flock.
- Read more about Chan enlightenment here.
- You'll find ancient Koan examples with answers at Chan Koans or choose the
48 Koans (with answers) of Mumonkan (chin.: Wumen guang).
But why not try to decode these puzzling riddles by yourself!
B A N G !
Koans are not too difficult to answer.
Here's an example.
The question "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" is a rather well-known Zen Koan and often used as an initiation for Zen students.There are more Koan examples and simple rules how to deal with these riddles on a special page..
It sounds difficult because its impossible to clap just one hand, isn't it?
The answer is nevertheless quite simple.
How do you clap both your hands? You lift both arms and clash the hands together, don't you?
Try this movement again, but with one arm and hand only .
That's it, the "sound" of one hand clapping.
You want more? There are 30 basic Koans, lots of ancient Koans
and the famous 48 Koans of 13th century Chinese master Wumen Hukai (jap.: Mumon).
Or find a sample of Koan questions from visitors of this site and my answers here!
You may send your own question about Buddhist Koans and Chan to me. I'll answer via e-mail.
Read more about the buddhist Koans and their Chinese origin!.
Last but not least: download one of my free ebooks, that gives you the answers to most popular Chan Buddhist Koans.
Don't forget, Koans are stories about action, not talking.
The actors are always a senile know-it-all teacher and you the clever student.
Make a slap-stick out of every encounter with the master.
Free Zen Riddle and Koan Service
go to 'Zen Koans'
see the 48 Koans of Mumonkan
got to Zen Riddles
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