Zen Buddhist Koans
The Enlightenment Saga
This is no Koan, not at all.
In theory Zen buddhist Koans are stories about nothing, which is called "enlightenment".
- 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.
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The Zen master knows the meaning of all and every Koans because (by definition) he's enlightened.
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The Zen student has to meditate with hundreds of Koans in order to become enlightened himself.
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Enlightenment is said to be a sudden experienced while meditating about a Koan.
These basic believes in buddhist Koans and enlightenment are part of the
religious orthodoxy in Zen Buddhism.
If you're just looking for Koan examples and their answers go to
Zen Koans.
The reality of Zen Buddhist Koans
Like always in the realm of religion, Zen believes and faith are different from reality.
How do you answer this Koan?

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.
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.
There are more Koan examples and simple rules how to deal with these riddles on a
special page..
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 Zen
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 Zen 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.
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see the 48 Koans of Mumonkan
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