A koan (pronounced ) is a story, dialog, question, or statement in the history and lore of Chan (Zen) Buddhism, generally containing aspects that are inaccessible to rational understanding, yet that may be accessible to intuition. A famous koan is, "Two hands clap and there is a sound; what is the sound of one hand?" (oral tradition, attributed to Hakuin Ekaku, 1686-1769, considered a reviver of the koan tradition in Japan).

Koans originate in the sayings and doings of sages and legendary figures, usually those authorized to teach in a lineage that regards Bodhidharma (c. 5th-6th century) as its ancestor. Koans are said to reflect the enlightened or awakened state of such persons, and sometimes said to confound the habit of discursive thought or shock the mind into awareness. Zen teachers often recite and comment on koans, and some Zen practitioners concentrate on koans during meditation. Teachers may probe such students about their koan practice using "checking questions" to validate an experience of insight (kensho) or awakening. Responses by students have included actions or gestures, "capping phrases" (jakugo), and verses inspired by the koan.

As used by teachers, monks, and students in training, koan can refer to a story selected from sutras and historical records, a perplexing element of the story, a concise but critical word or phrase (話頭 hua-tou) extracted from the story, or to the story appended by poetry and commentary authored by later Zen teachers, sometimes layering commentary upon commentary. Less formally, the term koan sometimes refers to any experience that accompanies awakening or spiritual insight.

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to me it's weird that people only remember king missile for "detachable penis". there are so many great songs/koans that are memorable
mzmo (Michael Ouyang) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:59:24 -0000
to me it's weird that people only remember king missile for "detachable penis". there are so many great songs/koans that are memorable
Zen Quotes Koans & Wise Sayings http://bit.ly/3My4tU
rationalmd (rationalmd) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:02:30 -0000
Zen Quotes Koans & Wise Sayings http://bit.ly/3My4tU
@Deepak_Chopra Currently reading: John Tarrant "Bring Me the Rhinoceros: And Other Zen Koans That Will Save Your Life"
StayAKA (AKA hotel residences) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:23:27 -0000
@Deepak_Chopra Currently reading: John Tarrant "Bring Me the Rhinoceros: And Other Zen Koans That Will Save Your Life"
@jbrains Oh, sure. This is more of a learning exercise, and a meta-learning exercise. The Ruby koans have a bug...
patrickwelsh (Patrick Wilson-Welsh) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:31:09 -0000
@jbrains Oh, sure. This is more of a learning exercise, and a meta-learning exercise. The Ruby koans have a bug...
Working my way through the ruby koans. #fb
steverb (Steve Barbour) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:35:56 -0000
Working my way through the ruby koans. #fb
@mujaku oh yes I remember that you have this thick book, next to your office - with all official 'answers' to koans
Wild_Ivy (Wild Ivy) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:56:20 -0000
@mujaku oh yes I remember that you have this thick book, next to your office - with all official 'answers' to koans

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