The Miscellaneous Koans of Zen Buddhism Part I

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.


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?


5 Answer

ghostcradle a baby on

your arm

Whether ghosts exists or not:

it's your own baby on your arm.

Care for it.


6 Answer

steps walk three steps

Three steps are three steps,

whoever walks them.


7 Answer

counting

point upwards andcount one, two,

three

If you're ask to count, just

count.


8 Answer

wellget some water up

with your hands

A man without shadow might

be a ghost. Don't bother. Get

the water.


9 Answer

wading walk in water

Forget about the complicated

details. Walk in water. That's it.


10 Answer

birdszig-zag your finger

in the air

The birds follow the moves of

your finger-bird. Why not?


11 Answer

pickingdive in water and

get it

How else can you pick a stone

out of the water?


12 Answer

stone Say your name

Every word is written on the

stone. Don't bother. (traditional:

your name)


13 Answer

wet

show the palm ofyour hand, then

turn it.

Alternatives are just the two

sides of one thing. What else?


14 Answer

ploughtake the ploughwith both hands

Don't bother about empty

hands or not. Just take the

plough.


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.


16 Answer

bridge

lean over therailing and look in

the water. What you see is what you are.


17 Answer

curves walk very slowly

You're the mountain walking

up the road. You're tired, aren't

you?


18 Answer

lotusyes, yes, yes, yes,

YES.

Everything is true, the circle,

the lotus, the mirror, you, me,

everything is true.


19 Answer

nut no, no, no, NO

I don't want that sharpness, not

the waternut, not the awl. Not

true. Nothing.


20 Answer

ricetaste it. “Ah, very

good rice.”

The mountain and Godai are

nothing else but you cooking

rice. Your rice is great!


21 Answer

karmacry like a newborn

baby.

What's karma? What's a

place? It makes no sense. Just

cry, cry, cry.


22 Answer

strengthlift a leg and walk

normally

Is there any reason not to lift

your leg? Not to walk? Just do

it.


23 Answer

piss chase a dog away.

Nothing holy about a Buddha

shrine. But don't piss in the

living room.


24 Answer

grass

beat a paththrough high

grass

That's your life: beating a path

for you. Every day. That's all.


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.


27 Answer

hand show your hand

A hand is a hand is a hand.

Don't get sidetracked by the

Buddha.


28 Answer

legwalk on hand and

knees

That's the Buddha walking on

his four legs isn't it?


29 Answer

crimsonweep and blow

your nose

When you're crying wipe the

tears away and blow your

nose.


30 Answer

meltingfall to the ground

and die.

If you go through a furnace,

what will happen? You'll die.


31 Answer

truejust sit on the

ground.

You are the only true Buddha

around, aren't you?


32 Answer

freeoh, I'm dying,dying, oh, oh.

Death is real, no game, no

philosophy, no poem. Reality.


33 Answer

deathat seven sharp I'll

have breakfast

Stupid question. Ham and eggs

are good for breakfast.


34 Answer

shirt put on a shirt

It's cold. Put on a shirt. Leave

the empty sky where it is.


35 Answer

arise sit down.

Arising from anything other

than your bum makes no

sense. Stay sitting.


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?


37 Answer

freedom walk around, sing

The Way of Zen is the principle

of everything, don't worry.

<<<< Koan Question

The Miscellaneous Koans of Zen Buddhism Part I

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