Today on The Daily Meditation we’re diving into Koan Meditation, a traditional form of Buddhist meditation technique. I’ve created a tutorial for you, along with a guided meditation and podcast
episode so that you can learn all about the wonderful practice of Koan Meditation.
What Is Koan Meditation?
Koan Meditation is a technique in which we meditate on a koan, a paradoxical story or phrase designed to open the mind to a deeper perspective on life. These “Koans” usually come from
classic Buddhist texts. For instance, the Koan I’ve chosen for our meditation (below) is from The Gateless Gate by Chinese Zen Master Wumen Huikai.
You can decide whether you want to study koans formally or informally. In some practices, such as in Rinzai Zen, students are led through a formal systematic training in which they will study hundreds of koans. But most people today use them as an informal type of contemplation and reflection, a bit like a riddle, as is done in the Soto Zen tradition.
And so with Koan meditation what we do is calm the mind through Anapanasati and then gently invite the story or the phrase of the koan to enter our awareness. We then allow the Koan to
reveal its truth to us. And that is the basic concept of koans.
When I teach Koan meditation in my lessons I always advise my students to avoid the usual trappings of seeking and grasping. Koans are not about seeking answers or grasping certain thoughts. Rather, they are about allowing the mind to explore and letting the koan reveal itself to you, as you will see when you try the guided meditation below. This is important because we want to bypass the analytical mind in order to allow for sudden insight (Kensho) and awakening
(Satori). This is when you will gain the most from koan practice.
I would also like to mention that you don’t have to practice koans as a meditation. If you prefer you can also reflect on them throughout your day.Traditionally it is also advised to practice koans with a teacher, which is why I recommend that you book a meditation session with me if you would like to go further in your koan practice.
Now, let’s try a koan meditation session.
Guided Buddhist Koan Meditation
Guided Koan Meditation
Script
Welcome to this wonderful koan meditation session, a traditional Zen Buddhist form of meditation. When you are ready, get nice and comfortable, and gently close your eyes.
Let’s begin, as we usually do, with a deep breath in through the nose to a count of four, and pause for four. Breathe out through the mouth for four, and again pause for four. Repeat.
All we are doing is calmly observing that subtle energy of the breath flowing through the nose, deep down into the abdomen, and gradually back out through the mouth. Let us remind ourselves that no matter what we have been doing up to now, and no matter what comes later, for now, all we must do is calmly observe the breath—just letting go and allowing ourselves to enjoy the pure nature of the present moment as we shine our awareness on the flow of the breath.
As you continue to mindfully breathe, I shall briefly introduce **koan** meditation. Koan meditation is a traditional form of Zen Buddhist meditation in which we meditate on **koans**, which are short stories and phrases. These phrases are not designed to be questions and answers. Rather, they are designed to open the mind to curiosity and exploration. But for now, all we must do is observe the breath, remembering that it is normal and natural for the mind to wander from time to time. Remember, like an old friend, to gently guide the mind back to the breath when we need to.
Within us, there begins to swell an energy of emptiness, becoming aware of the open space within the mind and the body, allowing our awareness to float in that infinite ocean of empty energy that permeates all things. As you allow your mind to reside here, floating within the emptiness, allow me to introduce our **koan**.
This **koan** is number 41 from the *Gateless Gate* and *Bonds Edition*, and it goes like so:
“No, no, do not speak. The ultimate truth is not even to think. No, no, do not speak. The ultimate truth is not even to think.”
We’re just allowing our awareness to lightly focus on those words, but we’re not grasping, we’re not striving for answers or anything. We’re simply allowing that **koan**—those words—to reside in our conscious awareness, as though those words were simply floating there, without us trying to control them. Return to the breath when you need to re-enter your mind.
“No, no, do not speak. The ultimate truth is not even to think.”
Just allow that phrase to float like a butterfly within that empty, peaceful space within you.
“No, no, do not speak. The ultimate truth is not even to think.”
Now, what we want to do is allow the **koan** to reveal itself to the mind. It is not the mind grasping at the **koan**, and it is not the mind striving to unravel the **koan**. Rather, the **koan** is revealing itself to the mind, as though that butterfly floating in your mind were revealing its wings to you.
“No, no, do not speak. The ultimate truth is not even to think.”
And so, I shall repeat the steps: We are sitting calmly, observing the breath, and as we observe the breath, we cultivate that infinite ocean of empty space—that peacefulness within—and then we invite the **koan**:
“No, no, do not speak. The ultimate truth is not even to think.”
We invite that **koan** into our awareness like a butterfly that is just floating around us. We’re not grasping at it, and we’re not trying to unravel it. Rather, we allow the **koan**—we allow that butterfly—to show us its wings.
And thus, we meditate upon a **koan**. Feel free to sit here, reflecting on that **koan**, allowing the butterfly to show you its wings for as long as you like. Also, know that you can work on a **koan** outside of meditation. Throughout your day, you can invite the **koan** to enter your awareness and see what it might reveal to you about whatever situation that moment happens to be.
That concludes our meditation on **koan**. I do hope you have enjoyed this session, and I would ask that you kindly like, comment, and subscribe. That way, perhaps more people can discover the wonder of **koan** meditation. Thank you ever so much. I’ll see you next time.