"Not thinking about anything is Zen.
Once you know this, walking, sitting or lying down
-- everything you do is Zen."
-Bodhidharma
The following koans have existed for many generations; some koans are more than 1400 years old. Koans are short parables meant to incite some sort of realization about the true nature of things. Some are single lines, some are drawn-out stories like these. Only trained Zen masters can affirm whether or not you've fully grasped a koan, but if you don't have access to a formal Zen study setting, pondering them in your meditations is an insightful exercise.
Western philosophy is predicated on rational, logical, sequential thought. Zen, coming from the Eastern tradition, questions this, ideally leaving it behind in its entirety. While these three stories are basic and easier to grasp, many koans are not meant to be logical. Their very lack of logic is arguably the whole point-- though that isn't to say they are meaningless.
"A student of Tendai, a philosophical school of Buddhism, came to the Zen abode of Gasan as a pupil. When he was departing a few years later, Gasan warned him: "Studying the truth speculatively is useful as a way of collecting preaching material. But remember that unless you meditate constantly your light of truth may go out."
"Tanzan and Ekido were once traveling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was still falling.
Coming around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross the intersection.
"Come on, girl" said Tanzan at once. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her over the mud.
Ekido did not speak again until that night when they reached a lodging temple. Then he no longer could restrain himself. "We monks don't go near females," he told Tanzan, "especially not young and lovely ones. It is dangerous. Why did you do that?"
"I left the girl there," said Tanzan. "Are you still carrying her?""
Coming around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross the intersection.
"Come on, girl" said Tanzan at once. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her over the mud.
Ekido did not speak again until that night when they reached a lodging temple. Then he no longer could restrain himself. "We monks don't go near females," he told Tanzan, "especially not young and lovely ones. It is dangerous. Why did you do that?"
"I left the girl there," said Tanzan. "Are you still carrying her?""
"Sozan, a Chinese Zen master, was asked by a student: "What is the most valuable thing in the world?"
The master replied: "The head of a dead cat."
"Why is the head of a dead cat the most valuable thing in the world?" inquired the student.
Sozan replied: "Because no one can name its price.""
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