Koans « Daily Buddhism

Koan: The Dead Man’s Answer

By Brian Schell, on July 6th, 2009%

The Dead Man’s Answer

When Mamiya, who later became a well-known preacher, went to a teacher for personal guidance, he was asked to explain the sound of one hand.

Mamiya concentrated upon what the sound of one hand might be. “You are not working hard enough,” his teacher told him. “You are too attached to food, wealth, things, . . . → Read More: Koan: The Dead Man’s Answer

Koan: Joshu’s Zen

By Brian Schell, on May 21st, 2009%

Joshu’s Zen

Joshu began the study of Zen when he was sixty years old and continued until he was eighty, when he realized Zen.

He taught from the age of eighty until he was one hundred and twenty.

A student once asked him: “If I haven’t anything in my mind, what shall I do?”

Joshu replied: “Throw it out.”

“But if . . . → Read More: Koan: Joshu’s Zen

Koan: Sleeping in the Daytime

By Brian Schell, on May 12th, 2009%

Sleeping in the Daytime

The master Soyen Shaku passed from this world when he was sixty-one years of age. Fulfilling his life’s work, he left a great teaching, far richer than that of most Zen masters. His pupils used to sleep in the daytime during midsummer, and while he overlooked this he himself never wasted a minute.

When . . . → Read More: Koan: Sleeping in the Daytime

Koan: Publishing the Sutras

By Brian Schell, on May 5th, 2009%

Publishing the Sutras

Tetsugen, a devotee of Zen in Japan, decided to publish the sutras, which at that time were available only in Chinese. The books were to be printed with wood blocks in an edition of seven thousand copies, a tremendous undertaking.

Tetsugen began by traveling and collecting donations for this purpose. A few sympathizers would give . . . → Read More: Koan: Publishing the Sutras

Koan: Flower Shower

By Brian Schell, on April 28th, 2009%

Koan: Flower Shower

Subhuti was Buddha’s disciple. He was able to understand the potency of emptiness, the viewpoint that nothing exists except in its relationship of subjectivity and objectivity.

One day Subhuti, in a mood of sublime emptiness, was sitting under a tree. Flowers began to fall about him.

“We are praising you for your discourse on emptiness,” the . . . → Read More: Koan: Flower Shower