Re: [Zen] Zen Koans

[Jue Miao Jing Ming - 覺妙精明]

Koan is for the practitioners to wake to the fact that we are enslaved by our mind.  Such that we could open our Inner Self and be in touch the "real form" of the universe, which is the invisible life force and wisdom of the universe in a complete separate domain from the domain of the consciousness. That's my witness. Fa Jian wrote: A Koan is a story, dialogue, question or statement in the history and lore of Zen, generally containing aspects that are inaccessible to rational understanding, yet that may be accessible to intuition. A famous Koan is, "Two hands clap and there is a sound; what is the sound of one hand?" (oral tradition, attributed to Hakuin Ekaku, 1686-1769, considered a reviver of the Koan tradition in Japan). _____ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]ps.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]ps.com] On Behalf Of Al Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2007 07:00 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]ps.com Subject: [Zen] Zen Koans I realize that there are many interesting stories about Zen Koans. I have found it to be very entertaining reading. However, some of the koans make me wonder if they do not have to be interpreted based on a culture of alcoholism and illiteracy which existed back in those days? Some of those stories only make sense if the people involved had been drinking heavily. No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.17.6/1193 - Release Date: 12/22/2007 14:02 No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.17.6/1193 - Release Date: 12/22/2007 14:02 __._,_.___ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today! Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe __,_._,___