A kōan, literally transcribed as public case, is typically an unfathomable expression used as a teaching mechanism, resulting from discourses between Zen masters and their students and used throughout history as educational devices in some schools of Ch'an (J. Zen). Kōans are viewed not only as expressions of an enlightened mind, but also as instruments through which an enlightenment can be realized for those who study them.[1] It has been said that koans force individuals into intellectual deadlocks which cannot be overcome by more conjecture or logical reasoning.[2] There are many kōan collections known to exist, with some of the better known of these being the Mumonkan, the Hekiganroku, parts of the Shōbōgenzō,
See also
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edit- Heine, Steven (2000). The Koan: Texts and Contexts in Zen Buddhism. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195117484. OCLC 41090651.
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- Neighbour, Roger (2005). The Inner Consultation: How to Develop an Effective And Intuitive Consulting. Radcliffe Publishing. ISBN 1857756797. OCLC 57465622.
Suggested reading
edit- Cleary, Thomas F. (2005). The Blue Cliff Record. Shambhala. ISBN 159030232X. OCLC 59007428.
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- Cleary, Thomas F. (1997). No Barrier: Unlocking the Zen Koan : a New Translation of the Zen Classic Wumenguan. North Atlantic Books. ISBN 155643247X. OCLC 36908979.
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- Heine, Steven (2004). Opening a Mountain: Koans of the Zen Masters. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195135865. OCLC 57501953.
- Leggett, Trevor (1985). The Warrior Kōans: Early Zen in Japan. Arkana. ISBN 1850630232. OCLC 11867771.
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- Miura, Isshu (1993). The Zen Koan: Its History and Use in Rinzai Zen. Harcourt, Brace & World. ISBN 0156999811. OCLC 35674799.
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- Sahn, Seung (2003). Zen: The Perfect Companion. Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers. ISBN 1579122795. OCLC 52075077.
- Sahn, Seung (1992). The Whole World is a Single Flower 365 Kong-ans for Everyday Life, with questions and commentary. C.E. Tuttle Co. ISBN 0585061041. OCLC 42855442.
- Senzaki, Nyogen (2000). The Iron Flute: 100 Zen Koans. Tuttle. ISBN 080483248X. OCLC 45081350.
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- Shibayama, Zenkei (2000). The Gateless Barrier: Zen Comments on the Mumonkan. Shambhala. ISBN 1570627266. OCLC 44118110.
- Suzuki, Daisetz Teitaro (1994). The Zen Koan as a Means of Attaining Enlightenment. C.E. Tuttle Co. OCLC 44956384.
