the miscellaneous koans of zen buddhism part i
TRANSCRIPT
The Miscellaneous Koansof Zen Buddhism
Part IQuestions and Answers
The Miscellaneous Koans of every Zen School Part I (Koans one to thirty seven)
Introduced, edited and illustrated by Reinhard KochPictures taken from 1940s American comic pencilers
Sydney 2013
Copyright by Reinhard Koch
Introduction Part I
Do you only want a very short instruction?
Click:How to deal with this Koan questions and Koan answers e-book?
You don't want or need any introduction? Go directly to Koan Question 1!
Basic ideas to remember while dealing with Koans
The way to answer Koans questions is to forget about their practical or philosophical
complications and and instead of talking try to act out an answer, equally strange as the
question. (Sometimes you have to say something while acting.) Some examples:
If you're asked,
to grab a stone from the deep ocean, just put
your hand down (in water), get it up again and
open the hand to “show the stone”.
to ride a buffalo while walking, forget about the
walking and move your body as if riding a
buffalo.
where to go fret death, just go for breakfast.
What is the law of change: show that in the
morning it's cold, but at midday it's much
warmer.
Koans sound difficult, because they are based on three strange assumptions
The world is simple and nothing else but everyday activities.
Theory or concept are of no use.
You, the actor is identical with everything.
With these basic ideas of Zen in mind it should be easy to find solutions for Koans.
But it isn't.
The reason is quite simple:
Zen believes contradict our everyday experiences.
They are illogical and wrong because
The world is NOT simple.
We NEED at least basic theories and concepts in our everyday life.
We're NOT identifying ourselves with everything.
But Zen insists, your every experiences are not reality, but only a dream.
I'll stop here. If you would like to go further down the track to understand the
meaning of Koans and the believes of Zen, please refer to my website at
http://www.heartofmeditation.com/zen-riddles.html
Paradox, Koans and the religious
background of Zen
Zen Riddles, called Koans are so difficult,
because they are paradoxical, many people
believe. But that's wrong. A proper paradox is
illogical and contradictory. A paradox cannot be
solved.
Koans riddles can. They are only absurd for they
ask you to do or to know something, which is
impossible to do or to know.
“Bring me the stone which lies 10.000m deep in the ocean.”
”While walking ride a buffalo”.
“Where do you after go death?”
“Why is everything under the law of change?”
Religion is equally illogical as Koans are. It's this similarity that makes Zen people believe,
answering Koans is a way to achieve Enlightenment, the supreme religious state of soul
and mind.
Therefore the answers are kept secret and each student, under the guidance of a master
has to find the right answer herself.
Dealing with Koans deeply changes a students mind and one day there will be sudden
shift to Enlightenment. The master realises the shift at once and will acknowledge
Enlightenment.
This religious narrative can in no way be proved, but that's why Zen people like to believe
in it.
You can find more about the connection between Koans and Enlightenment at
http://www.heartofmeditation.com/zen-enlightenment.html
The Chinese roots of Koans
There's no need to believe, that Koans are a way to
achieve Enlightenment.
It's possible to deal with Koans apart from Zen theory
and teachings.
Koans are Chinese riddles, which were invented
from 10th century onwards, during a radical
transformation in China.
In this period the Indian roots of Buddhism were cut
off, the Buddha became a teacher like Laotse and
Confucius and Buddhist practices were centred on
Meditation (chin.: Chan).
If you want to know more about the history of Buddhism in China go to
http://www.heartofmeditation.com/buddhism-china.html
In this process the Taoist's battle-cry: “Whatever is said about the Tao, is not the Tao” was
transformed into its Buddhist version: “What is the Buddha?”
Hundreds of variations of this questions were invented: the Koans.
Sometimes Koans are simply absurd questions, sometimes they are strange stories,
sometimes senseless dialogues.
Koans questions could be answered in many ways, as long they were creative. Illogical,
childlike responses very often do the trick.
More information about Koans questions and Koan answer you'll find at
http://www.heartofmeditation.com/buddhist-koans.html
How to deal with this Koan questions and Koan answers e-book?
It's easy.
First read the question.
If you want to know the answer, just klick
“Answer” which you find directly under the
question.
This klick brings you to the answer of the Koan,
written in bold letters.
To the right of the answer you'll find a short
explanation.
If you want to check the question again, klick
“Koan Question”.
If you want to go to the next Koan klick “Next
Koan”.
In both cases you come back to the section
with Koan questions, either to the one you already read, or to the next question.
For each of the following 37 Koans only one answer is provided. But there are more. After
having read some Koans and their answers try to create more on your own! It's easy!
Koan Questions
Koan Answers
37 Questions
1 Koan Question
bell
How do you stop a temple bell 100 miles away?
>>>Answer
2 Koan Question
fire
Put out a far away fire.
>>>Answer
3 Koan Question
stars
Put out the stars in the sky.
>>>Answer
4 Koan Question
boat
How do you stop a sailing boat?
>>>Answer
5 Koan Question
ghost
How do you save a ghost?
>>>Answer
6 Koan Question
steps
Make mount Fuji take three steps. How?
>>>Answer
7 Koan Question
counting
Count the stars in Heaven. Tell me their number.
>>>Answer
8 Koan Question
well
Looking in a well, a man without shadow is drawing water. Why?
>>>Answer
9 Koan Question
wading
Slowly wade in the creek. What's its sound?
>>>Answer
10 Koan Question
birds
Freely watch birds and sketch their many tracks.
>>>Answer
11 Koan Question
picking
With dry hands pick up a stone from 10000m deep in the ocean.
>>>Answer
12 Koan Question
stone
What's written on the stone 10000m deep in the ocean?
>>>Answer
13 Koan Question
wet
It cannot get wet. It cannot get dry. What is it?
>>>Answer
14 Koan Question
plough
With empty hands take hold of a plough. How?
>>>Answer
15 Koan Question
buffalo
While walking you're riding a buffalo. How?
>>>Answer
16 Koan Question
bridge
The bridge flows, the water is motionless. Why?
>>>Answer
17 Koan Question
curves
How do you walk up a mountain road with 99 curves?
>>>Answer
18 Koan Question
lotus
Why is the lotus leaf round, round like a mirror?
>>>Answer
19 Koan Question
nut
Why is the edge of a water nut sharp, sharper than an awl?
>>>Answer
20 Koan Question
rice
How does a cloud on Mt. Godai cook rice?
>>>Answer
21 Koan Question
karma
What's your place in karma?
>>>Answer
22 Koan Question
strength
A man of great strength will not lift his leg. Why?
>>>Answer
23 Koan Question
piss
Does a dog in heaven piss in front of a Buddha shrine?
>>>Answer
24 Koan Question
grass
What's the final purpose of your way through grass?
>>>Answer
25 Koan Question
snow
Why are the thousand mountains covered with snow?
>>>Answer
26 Koan Question
tongue
Why is it not the tongue that we speak with?
>>>Answer
27 Koan Question
hand
What is my hand compared with the Buddha's hand?
>>>Answer
28 Koan Question
leg
What is my leg compared with a donkey's leg?
>>>Answer
29 Koan Question
crimson
Why do “crimson lines” (tears) never cease to flow?
>>>Answer
30 Koan Question
melting
Why is a metal Buddha melting when he passes through a furnace?
>>>Answer
31 Koan Question
true
Why is a true Buddha sitting in the house?
>>>Answer
32 Koan Question
free
How do you free yourself from life and death?
>>>Answer
33 Koan Question
death
Where do you go after death?
>>>Answer
34 Koan Question
shirt
How do you put on a shirt of empty sky?
>>>Answer
35 Koan Question
arise
How does the Buddha's dharma arise from the supreme way?
>>>Answer
36 Koan Question
change
All is under the law of change. Why?
>>>Answer
37 Koan Question
freedom
The principle of Zen is complete freedom. Why?
>>>Answer
Koan Questions
Koan Answers
Part Two: 37 Answers & Explanations
1 Answer
bellding-dong, ding-
dong
Forget about the complicateddetails of the riddle. What
make a bell a bell? Just itssound: ding-dong, ding-dong.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
2 Answer
fire move like a fire
There is no difference between
you and a fire. You are a fire,
aren't you? This means the fire
is you.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
3 Answer
stars switch off a lamp
Don't bother about stars, sky,
lights, etc. just switch it off.
<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
4 Answer
boatMove your body
like a sailing boat You're the boat, aren't you?
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
5 Answer
ghostcradle a baby on
your arm
Whether ghosts exists or not:
it's your own baby on your arm.
Care for it.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
6 Answer
steps walk three steps
Three steps are three steps,
whoever walks them.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
7 Answer
counting
point upwards andcount one, two,
three
If you're ask to count, just
count.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
8 Answer
wellget some water up
with your hands
A man without shadow might
be a ghost. Don't bother. Get
the water.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
9 Answer
wading walk in water
Forget about the complicated
details. Walk in water. That's it.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
10 Answer
birdszig-zag your finger
in the air
The birds follow the moves of
your finger-bird. Why not?
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
11 Answer
pickingdive in water and
get it
How else can you pick a stone
out of the water?
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
12 Answer
stone Say your name
Every word is written on the
stone. Don't bother. (traditional:
your name)
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
13 Answer
wet
show the palm ofyour hand, then
turn it.
Alternatives are just the two
sides of one thing. What else?
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
14 Answer
ploughtake the ploughwith both hands
Don't bother about empty
hands or not. Just take the
plough.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
15 Answer
buffalohit the buffalo with
a stick.
Walking, riding: what's the
difference? You need to beat a
buffalo in order to move it.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
16 Answer
bridge
lean over therailing and look in
the water. What you see is what you are.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
17 Answer
curves walk very slowly
You're the mountain walking
up the road. You're tired, aren't
you?
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
18 Answer
lotusyes, yes, yes, yes,
YES.
Everything is true, the circle,
the lotus, the mirror, you, me,
everything is true.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
19 Answer
nut no, no, no, NO
I don't want that sharpness, not
the waternut, not the awl. Not
true. Nothing.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
20 Answer
ricetaste it. “Ah, very
good rice.”
The mountain and Godai are
nothing else but you cooking
rice. Your rice is great!
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
21 Answer
karmacry like a newborn
baby.
What's karma? What's a
place? It makes no sense. Just
cry, cry, cry.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
22 Answer
strengthlift a leg and walk
normally
Is there any reason not to lift
your leg? Not to walk? Just do
it.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
23 Answer
piss chase a dog away.
Nothing holy about a Buddha
shrine. But don't piss in the
living room.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
24 Answer
grass
beat a paththrough high
grass
That's your life: beating a path
for you. Every day. That's all.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
25 Answer
snowbrush the snow
from your sleeves
Snow is snow wherever it is.
Don't catch a cold.
<<<< Koan Question Next oan Question >>>>
26 Answer
tongue say something
Silly question. Just show that
you're speaking.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
27 Answer
hand show your hand
A hand is a hand is a hand.
Don't get sidetracked by the
Buddha.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
28 Answer
legwalk on hand and
knees
That's the Buddha walking on
his four legs isn't it?
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
29 Answer
crimsonweep and blow
your nose
When you're crying wipe the
tears away and blow your
nose.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
30 Answer
meltingfall to the ground
and die.
If you go through a furnace,
what will happen? You'll die.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
31 Answer
truejust sit on the
ground.
You are the only true Buddha
around, aren't you?
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
32 Answer
freeoh, I'm dying,dying, oh, oh.
Death is real, no game, no
philosophy, no poem. Reality.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
33 Answer
deathat seven sharp I'll
have breakfast
Stupid question. Ham and eggs
are good for breakfast.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
34 Answer
shirt put on a shirt
It's cold. Put on a shirt. Leave
the empty sky where it is.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
35 Answer
arise sit down.
Arising from anything other
than your bum makes no
sense. Stay sitting.
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
36 Answer
change
in the morning itwas rainy now the
sun's bright.
Many changes. Everywhere.
Changes, changes, changes.
That's enough to know, isn't it?
<<<< Koan Question Next Koan Question >>>>
37 Answer
freedom walk around, sing
The Way of Zen is the principle
of everything, don't worry.
<<<< Koan Question