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| What is the sound of 1 hand clapping? (Source) |
The book has a bit of everything - from history, entertainment, food, art to traditions, music, religion, pop culture, etc. But for this post, I wanted to share with you about Koan.
The book defines Koan as brief stories in the the form of riddles or fables that Zen teachers use to teach lessons to their students. According to Zen doctrine, the nature of Zen can’t be taught with words, and therefore it is the student who must teach himself.
If you have ever heard of the puzzling question “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” - that's probably one of the most popular koan.
Each person could have a different answer for that question as a koan is meant for self-reflection. Check out some interesting answers I found online on the riddle - What is the sound of one hand clapping?:
- it's the sound of silence
- the question should be what is the sound of one hand not clapping?
- answer it with an action e.g. trying to clap with one hand against an invisible hand
- whoosh
- clap with one hand by tapping your fingers against your palm - it's still the sound of a regular clap but fainter in sound
Amazing how each person could have different creative answers, right?
Koan brings us to a state of perplexity triggering our brain to start thinking in a nonlogical way. When our thoughts become confused, according to Eastern philosophies, we are better able to advance toward enlightenment.
I researched other popular koan and here you go for some brain exercise. 😅
1. What is your original face before you were born?
2. When the many are reduced to one, to what is the one reduced?
3. BASO said to a monk, “If I see you have a staff, I will give it to you. If I see you have no staff, I will take it away from you.
4. As the roof was leaking, a zen Master told two monks to bring something to catch the water. One brought a tub, the other a basket. The first was severely reprimanded, the second highly praised.
5. The Surangama scripture says, "When I do not see, why do you not see my not seeing? If you see my not seeing, naturally that is not the characteristic of not seeing. If you don't see my not seeing, it is naturally not a thing-how could it not be you? "
6. Two monks were arguing about the temple flag waving in the wind.
One said, “The flag moves.”
The other said, “The wind moves.”
They argued back and forth but could not agree.
Hui-neng, the sixth patriarch, said: “Gentlemen! It is not the flag that moves. It is not the wind that moves. It is your mind that moves.”
7. Goso said, "When you meet a man of the Way on the path, do not meet him with words or in silence. Tell me, how will you meet him?"
One said, “The flag moves.”
The other said, “The wind moves.”
They argued back and forth but could not agree.
Hui-neng, the sixth patriarch, said: “Gentlemen! It is not the flag that moves. It is not the wind that moves. It is your mind that moves.”
7. Goso said, "When you meet a man of the Way on the path, do not meet him with words or in silence. Tell me, how will you meet him?"
Happy contemplating! 😅
