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Category: koan

In Zen Buddhism, enigmatic or paradoxical questions used by teachers to develop students’ intuition. Also refers to religious problems encountered in daily life.

  • Know your real self

    When you look for it,
    You become further from it;
    When you seek it
    You turn away from it all the more.

    – Linji (d. 867)

  • Gaze at the moon

    Many paths lead from
    The foot of the mountain,
    But at the peak
    We all gaze at the
    Single bright moon.

    – Ikkyu (1394-1481)

  • Mysterious Power

    Producing without possessing,
    Doing without presuming,
    Growing without domineering:
    This is called mysterious power.

    – Tao-te Ching

  • Recluse

    People will learn of this spot;
    We’ll see you moving
    Higher on the mountain.

    – Chia Tao (779-843)

  • The Way of the Sword

    For the Way of the sword is
    folded two;
    Like the rose we have thorns,
    and like the rose, we unfold.

    – Ji Aoi Isshi

  • New Year

    The sun rises; the sun sets.
    Watch it and see.
    River and moon
    Pine trees and wind,
    All old poems to me.
    Who needs words for the New Year!

    – Tao Kai

  • Year end

    I have no idea where the
    Months have gone
    Every time I turn around
    Another year on earth is over.

    – Han-shan Te-ch’ing (1546-1623)

  • deliberation

    Right at the moment of dropping off,
    Deliberation and discussion
    Are one thousand or
    Ten thousand miles away.

    – Hongzhi (1091-1157)

  • lotus floating

    Not much to offer you,
    Just a lotus flower floating
    In a small jar of water.

    – Ryokan (1758-1831)

  • Sounds of Snow

    If only I could share it:
    The soft sound of snow
    Falling late at night
    From the trees

    – Hakuin (1686-1768)