Gateless Gate (Koans)

I like to dedicate this post to the paradoxical koans found in Zen. Since Zen emphasizes experience (and discourages rationalization) there isn't supposed to be any intellectual answer to them as they are paradoxical in nature. They are meant to be experienced directly. They are usually short and compact (typically few lines to few paragraphs length) but contain deep spiritual insight. They kind of remind me of swordplay: simple and economical strokes that don't waste energy but powerful enough to take down the opponent. In the case of koans, the energy is the number of words (in a koan) and the opponent is the rational (discriminating) mind.



The Gateless Gate

Basho's Staff:

Basho Osho said to his disciples, "If you have a staff, I will give you a staff. If you have no staff, I will take it from you."

Hoen's "Who is He?":

Hoen of Tozan said, "Even Shakya and Maitreya are servants of another. I want to ask you, who is he?"

Joshu's Oak Tree:

A monk asked JOshu, "What is the meaning of Bodhidharma's coming to China?" Joshu said, "The oak tree in the garden."

Nansen's "Reason is Not the Way":

Nansen said, "Mind is not the Buddha; reason is not the Way."

Baso's "No Mind, No Buddha":

A monk asked Baso, "What is the Buddha?" Baso answered, "No mind, no Buddha."

When the Bell Sounds:

Ummon said, "The world is vast and wide. Why do you put on your seven-piece robe at the sound of the bell?"

The Sixth Patriarch's "Your Mind Moves":

The wind was flapping a temple flag, and two monks started an argument. One said the flag moved, the other said the wind moved; they argued back and forth but could not reach a conclusion. The Sixth Patriarch said, "It is not the wind that moves, it is not the flag that moves, it is your mind that moves." The two monks were awe-struck.