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TOPIC: DO KOANS HAVE ANSWERS? |
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Posted on May.28.2007 @ 08:35PM EDT by Davidseon
Do Koans have answers? Of course they do! But, how does one answer them.
Lets take the case of Joshu's Dog. Now for those who don't know this koan, A monk asked Joshu, if a dog has the Buddha nature and Joshu answered NO!
Now the monk by asking Joshu if a dog has the Buddha nature, is by the very fact of asking the question, revealing, that he himself has not realised his own Buddha nature. Joshu, by refuting the monk by saying no, is telling the monk that he hasn't realised his Buddha nature.
This koan is directly related to the basic koan, Do you have the Buddha nature?
How does one answer this? In the Rinzai tradition, if one was to open his/her mouth, the master could yell or even strike the person before they could utter a sound. So how to answer? The idea of the koan is to demonstrate one's Buddha nature without words.
Now taking for granted that one demonstrates to the master their "Buddha Nature", the Master is likely to further ask, "What else"? Or "Is that the truth"? The student then scratches their head and thinks, " Hmm, I have understood Buddha Nature and demonstrated this to the Master, What else is there"?
Now comes the second meaning of the Koan. By asking what else? The Master is now saying "O.K. You think you have realised your Buddha nature, now show me Suchness!" The student may then either to bow, go away and contemplate some more, or maybe says to the master, "What else is there"? To this question the master could answer, "In Australia, birds fly south for the summer".
The whole point though, is that Koans do have answers and there are different levels to the koans. This is how the Master may judge the progress of the student
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Reply from ______
May.29.2007
07:09AM EDT
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I liner |
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71411
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Reply from stephen
May.29.2007
09:25AM EDT
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He did not answer "NO", he answered "MU". This presences a whole different kettle of fish. Some say MU means yes, some say MU means no and some say MU means both. Many say that MU means "Woof". Peace |
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71419
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Reply from Woodsman
May.29.2007
09:47AM EDT
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the day of the koans are over |
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71420
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Reply from Lynnoh
May.29.2007
12:16PM EDT
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Quote: "He did not answer "NO", he answered "MU". This presences a whole different kettle of fish. Some say MU means yes, some say MU means no and some say MU means both. Many say that MU means "Woof". Peace"
.........
hahahaha |
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71431
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Reply from Lynnoh
May.29.2007
12:16PM EDT
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over where? |
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71432
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Reply from El_Cid
May.29.2007
01:12PM EDT
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Koans 'have' answers? Joshu said 'No'?
Tell your master what you posted. If he slaps you, thank him.
I'd sooner believe you'd found ice cream in your koan ;)
. |
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71440
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Reply from Woodsman
May.29.2007
04:34PM EDT
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there flies a crow outside, a koan inside, as out, no master, no doubt |
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71442
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Reply from Woodsman
May.29.2007
06:24PM EDT
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timing, is everything, and nothing |
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71445
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Reply from Lynnoh
May.29.2007
06:33PM EDT
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Quote: "Koans 'have' answers? Joshu said 'No'?
Tell your master what you posted. If he slaps you, thank him.
I'd sooner believe you'd found ice cream in your koan ;)
."
.........
hahahaha ! good one |
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71446
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Reply from Lynnoh
May.29.2007
06:34PM EDT
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I'd say perfect... those biting flies....... |
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71447
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Reply from Davidseon
May.29.2007
07:54PM EDT
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Thank you for your enlightened replies. |
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71461
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Reply from HarryB
May.29.2007
08:14PM EDT
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Show me something that isn't a koan.
Regards,
H. |
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71462
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Reply from El_Cid
May.30.2007
12:09AM EDT
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Quote: " Show me something that isn't a koan.
Regards,
H. "
.........
"Mu"
Now please show me something that is.
. |
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71463
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Reply from ______
May.30.2007
06:33AM EDT
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I'm not fussy, just show me something. |
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71464
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Reply from HarryB
May.30.2007
06:50AM EDT
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Pigeon shit.
Regards,
Harry.
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71466
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Reply from Lynnoh
May.30.2007
12:24PM EDT
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poop! |
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71470
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Reply from Lynnoh
May.30.2007
12:26PM EDT
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well.. looks to be pop not poop |
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71472
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Reply from El_Cid
May.30.2007
01:10PM EDT
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Quote: "Pigeon shit.
Regards,
Harry.
"
.........
The marrow, don't pick at scabs.
That, or wait for Maitreya Buddha and ask him.
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71479
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Reply from Woodsman
May.30.2007
01:17PM EDT
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Just vote for Hillary, it'll be okay, if God is a girl. Oh baby... that's you. |
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71481
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Reply from HarryB
May.30.2007
02:03PM EDT
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I'm more of a Madonna Budha fan, Maitrya is so "Richard Gere". Make me a better offer, or at least a better Buddha.
Regards,
Harry. |
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71484
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Reply from El_Cid
May.30.2007
02:09PM EDT
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I seem to have lost what I came to zenguide looking for.
Thank you all.
Good-bye. |
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71485
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Reply from HarryB
May.30.2007
02:13PM EDT
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When/ if you stop looking try coming back and see what's changed, and tell us... just a suggestion. Disregard if not relevant.
Regards,
H |
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71486
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Reply from Woodsman
May.30.2007
02:46PM EDT
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I feel like some female leadership. I mean the real kind, not the fake stuff, cuz I don't have the money, or the time. I don't even have candy! What was I thinking? Before that, that tah... El Cid guy. |
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71487
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Reply from HarryB
May.30.2007
05:14PM EDT
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Margaret Thatcher is still alive.
Regards,
Harry. |
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71490
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Reply from Woodsman
May.30.2007
06:02PM EDT
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I doubt it, but only in a spiritual sense. We have no conditions for enlightenment. Just change your name, and... um, never mind. |
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71491
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Reply from Davidseon
May.30.2007
06:52PM EDT
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This topic seems to have taken of in some strange tangents. |
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71492
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Reply from Woodsman
May.30.2007
08:11PM EDT
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koans do not apply logic |
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71494
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Reply from ______
May.31.2007
03:19PM EDT
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in-house
roundhouse
out-house
zen-house
gasses |
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71532
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Reply from ______
May.31.2007
04:00PM EDT
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Yes you didn't show me anything like enough no yes you did, you did, you did show me enough of sumpin, enough...ok I seen enough. Yep, you dood you showed me enoughed. |
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71536
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Reply from ______
Jun.01.2007
06:25AM EDT
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Cut out the Joshu middle man and ask the dog. I know I did. |
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71543
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Reply from ______
Jun.01.2007
06:27AM EDT
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On second thoughts, you want my advice? Don't! Rrrrrralph!! |
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71544
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Reply from koanhead
Jun.11.2007
02:57PM EDT
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Silly joke or legitimate koan? You decide;
Q: How many zen masters does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
A: The pear tree in the garden |
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71793
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Reply from lehish
Jun.12.2007
05:28AM EDT
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lol |
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71808
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Reply from nowornever
Jan.07.2012
01:44PM EDT
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interesting topic.
thank u for posting :)
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134019
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Reply from chontri
Jan.07.2012
04:48PM EDT
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each and every koan has its answer.
but you got to find the answer for yourself.
nobody else can do it for you.
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134026
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Reply from nowornever
Jan.09.2012
12:59PM EDT
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and if sb gives me the answer can it not help me with other koans?
Some zen teachers give, or almost give by giving clear hints, the answers to students...I know this from life, one zen teacher gave me the answer(95% and 100% I found immediately), and it helped me a lot, not only with this koan but with next ones and life itself.
Thank You Master for yr answer.
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134071
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Reply from chontri
Jan.09.2012
01:30PM EDT
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they gave you a hint not the answer.
CT is not a master of any kind. |
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134073
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