Zen Koans: In Today's Language
5/5
()
About this ebook
Koans are a useful sign-post on the path to enlightenment. They reveal abstract Truth that cannot be expressed logically through presenting the reader with a paradox that can only be solved by shifting one's perspective.
The venerable Koans of the past, those that have been handed down through the generations are expressed in archaic language. If you cannot enter into that archaic language the koan is unlikely to bring you much benefit.
This book represents the Koans in modern language, accessible to all. It will not please the traditionalists, but it will make the wisdom contained therein accessible to a whole new generation of seeker.
Each koan encapsulates a profound truth for reflection. Zen counsels the lessening of the ego, not the strengthening of it as consumer culture would urge. Instead of making a name for ourselves in society, we should listen to the voice of pines and cedars when no wind stirs, in other words become no-thing, entering instead the field of pure being that is behind the phenomenal world.
David Tuffley
David Tuffley (PhD) is a Senior Lecturer in Applied Ethics & Socio-Technical Studies at Griffith University in Australia.David writes on a broad range of interests; from Comparative Religion, Anthropology, Psychology, Ancient and Modern History, Linguistics, Rhetoric, Philosophy, Architectural History, Environments and Ecosystems.
Read more from David Tuffley
Nautical Terms: A Dictionary Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSurfing Lingo: A Dictionary of Surfing Terms Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBeing Grateful: Becoming Whole Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBeing Resilient Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBeing Happy: Part 4 Cultivating Virtue Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Going with the Flow Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Zen Koans
Titles in the series (17)
Tao Te Ching: Lao Tzu's Timeless Classic for Today Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Art of Strategic Non-Action: Learning to Go with the Flow Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Zen Koans: In Today's Language Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Bodhicaryavatara: A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Essence of Buddhism Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Charismatic Leadership: A How to Guide Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Enchiridion of Epictetus Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Artful Traveller: The Flâneur's Guidebook Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Pursuit of Happiness: The Art of Not Taking Offence & Going with the Flow Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Four Sublime States: The Brahmaviharas Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Dhammapada: Your Guide on the Path to Enlightenment in the 21st Century Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Every Moment Is The Best Moment: The Essence of Enlightenment Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Being Alone Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius: A Primer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Leadership & The Tao a New Look at the Timeless Question “What Is Leadership?” Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Being Mindful: Living in the Now Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Related ebooks
Taking the Path of Zen Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Opening the Hand of Thought: Foundations of Zen Buddhist Practice Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cultivating the Empty Field: The Silent Illumination of Zen Master Hongzhi Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Master Ma's Ordinary Mind: The Sayings of Zen Master Mazu Daoyi Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsInside the Grass Hut: Living Shitou's Classic Zen Poem Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Bankei Zen: Translations from The Record of Bankei Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Keep Me in Your Heart a While: The Haunting Zen of Dainin Katagiri Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Simply Zen Quotes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Still Forest Pool: The Insight Meditation of Achaan Chah Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Zen Quote A Day: 365 Existential Zen Quotes For A Zensational Year Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5ZEN: Stories From The East Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Mind Sky: Zen Teaching on Living and Dying Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Zen and the Sutras Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Flower Does Not Talk: Zen Essays Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Most Important Point: Zen Teachings of Edward Espe Brown Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNovice to Master: An Ongoing Lesson in the Extent of My Own Stupidity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Journey to Mindfulness: The Autobiography of Bhante G. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Essential Chan Buddhism: The Character and Spirit of Chinese Zen Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Dropping Ashes on the Buddha: The Teachings of Zen Master Seung Sahn Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Introduction to Zen Koans: Learning the Language of Dragons Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Gateless Gate: The Classic Book of Zen Koans Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Book of Mu: Essential Writings on Zen's Most Important Koan Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Zen: The Authentic Gate Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Working with Zen Koans Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5An Introduction to Zen Buddhism Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Zen Master Raven: The Teachings of a Wise Old Bird Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Zen Teaching of Homeless Kodo Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Zen Flesh, Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Zen Questions: Zazen, Dogen, and the Spirit of Creative Inquiry Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Religion & Spirituality For You
The Screwtape Letters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Abolition of Man Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Grief Observed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mere Christianity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Calendar of Wisdom: Daily Thoughts to Nourish the Soul, Written and Se Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Warrior of the Light: A Manual Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Course In Miracles: (Original Edition) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Four Loves Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Be Here Now Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Love Dare Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Odyssey Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Gospel of Mary Magdalene Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Complete Papyrus of Ani Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Imitation of Christ: Selections Annotated & Explained Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was, and Who God Has Always Been Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Buddha's Guide to Gratitude: The Life-changing Power of Everyday Mindfulness Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Dangerous Prayers: Because Following Jesus Was Never Meant to Be Safe Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5NRSV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5You Were Born for This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Upon Waking: 60 Daily Reflections to Discover Ourselves and the God We Were Made For Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Writing to Wake the Soul: Opening the Sacred Conversation Within Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Zen Koans
3 ratings1 review
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I could not find the koans. I shall have to read them in some other book.
Book preview
Zen Koans - David Tuffley
Zen Koans
In Today’s Language
David Tuffley
We cannot see our reflections in running water.
It is only in still water that we can – Zen proverb.
Published by David Tuffley at Smashwords
Copyright 2010, 2014 David Tuffley
Published by Altiora Publications
See other David Tuffley books
Connect with David Tuffley on Facebook
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the work of this author.
Table of Contents
Zen Koans
Zen Koans
The koan is an enigmatic or paradoxical question used to develop a person’s Intuition. Koans are a valuable tool in your quest for Satori, but how do they work and why use them?
Koans work by confounding logic and forcing a person out of their normal thinking and into the realm of Intuition. In other words, the inherent meaning is inaccessible to rational understanding, but perhaps accessible to Intuition.
This chapter presents some of the classic koans from traditional Zen, originally written hundreds of years ago in Japanese, and re-interpreted from early English translations into early 21st Century English. The underlying meaning is still there, so they will still work as a koan should, but they are expressed in language more easily understood by people in the 21st Century.
Each koan encapsulates a profound truth for reflection. Zen counsels the lessening of the ego, not the strengthening of it as consumer culture would urge. Instead of making a name for ourselves in society, we should listen to the voice of pines and cedars when no wind stirs, in other words become no-thing, entering instead the field of pure being that is behind the phenomenal world.
The cup of tea
A Zen master received a visit from a university professor who wanted the master to add to his knowledge by telling him about Zen.
The master politely offered the professor some tea. The professor accepted and the master poured the tea from the pot into the cup. When the cup was full, he kept pouring. The tea overflowed, much to the consternation of the professor who said, there is no more room in the cup, it is overfull.
The master replied, the cup is like your mind, already full of opinions and beliefs. How can I teach you Zen unless you first empty your mind?
Is that so?
A Zen master lived in a village and was respected by all for his virtuous ways.
One of his neighbours, a grocer, had a teenage daughter. One day, her parents discovered she was pregnant. They demanded angrily to know who the father was. Eventually the girl told her parents that it was master.
The parents were furious. They confronted the master with the accusation. All the master said was, is that so? The parents went about the district, spreading blame with the intention of destroying the master’s reputation. When word of this reached the master, all he said was is that so?
Months passed. When the child was born, the mother’s parents took the baby to the master saying he was morally obliged to care for the child. The master replied, is that so? He embraced the baby, and took good care of him.
When the baby was a year old, the mother could stand it no longer. Tearfully she told her parents that it was the butcher’s boy who is the baby’s father, not the master.
The baby’s grand-parents were