Koan

A collection of 23 posts

The Platform Sutra Featured

Peace Isn't Luck: Then What is The Way?

"You say that there is no gradual progress, and yet Shakyamuni Buddha predicted my unsurpassed, perfect awakening. How can I get there?"

Paid-members only

Koan

Shushan’s Long-Life Stupa: Improbable! Impossible!

Members only

Koan

Ow! The Rest of the One Finger

Members only

Koan

Speak Truth Now!

Members only

Not Misusing Sexuality

Not Misusing Sexuality: A Dead Tree

Paid-members only

Record of Going Easy

Nanquan Beheads a Cat: Putting the Two Together with One Stroke of a Blade

Members only

Koan

A Fire Child Comes Seeking Fire: Understanding or Awakening?

Paid-members only

Record of Going Easy

This Breath Turns Millions Of Scrolls: An Invitation For The Ancestor To Go To East India

Koan

A Goose in a Bottle: How Will You Be Free?

Kannon Bodhisattva pays us a visit, drops their usual name and form, enters us, and turns in accord with the circumstances as they are.

Koan

Originally So Close

“This Way is originally so close.”

Paid-members only

Katagiri Roshi

Living With a Burning Question: The Heart of Zen

Members only

Record of Going Easy

Not Knowing is Most Intimate

Awakening Featured

Gnawing Through Qiánfēng’s Three Illnesses and Two Lights

"... You will see the infinite compassion contained in Qiánfēng’s instructions...."

Dogen

Dogen’s Instruction for Householder Zen Training

(Eihei kōroku V8.14) Translated with introduction and notes by Dōshō Port Introduction Because this Dōgen dharma discourse (hōgo) was written for householders, includes examples of awakened householders, and offers instructions for householders, I've long been curious about it. After all, 99% or so of those engaged in

Paid-members only

Dogen

Dōgen: Find a Good Teacher, Ask For a Koan, Break Through (EK V8.14.5)

Koan

Dark Night, Broken Bridge: What To Do When What's Worked Doesn't

The Broken Bridge, West Lake, Hangzhou, China Many of us come to a place in our journey where what once worked is broken, where the path is dark, where we're at a loss - especially in these dark days of ongoing pandemic, climate crisis, social divisions, and political

Going Through the Mystery

Going Through the Mystery Question 4: How Can This Be Avoided?

Koan

Who Hears?

Hakuin

Hakuin Zenji Post Index For Wild Fox Zen Blog

Hakuin

Hakuin's Single Hand

Blue Cliff Record

Fine Snowflakes, They Don't Fall Elsewhere

Dogen

Zazen is Dropping Body and Mind

Dogen

All Buddhas Come From This Sutra