RG ST 21 Midterm: Koans Analysis and Significance
Koa : A ok asked Maste Joshu, Does a dog hae Buddha-atue?
Joshu eplied, Mu
I would feel extremely confused and anxious if I received a two letter response
from my master regarding a valid question. First of all, what is Mu? Is it a word or a
soud? I ould’t ee hae the pope foudatio to stat the ecessa thought
pocess to dissect the eaig behid the aste’s espose. I ko that the ase
is supposed to elucidate the importance behind the question so that the student can
gain enlightenment, and that the frustration is part of the process. The article
mentioned how the student, after a long period of zazen, was able to solidify his
udestadig of his aste’s ase. Theefoe, it shocases that the icoheet and
short answers are designed to be a strong tool in the practice of zazen to aid in the
studet’s path toads elighteet. Oeall, I staed at this paticula koa fo a
long period of time because it almost seemed so unnecessary and insignificant because
of the lack of apparent meaning behind it. But I assume that the value comes from the
inherent value that I am unable to unlock because koan are not meant for anyone and
is rather a very complex system of words. It also relies on the relationship between a
aste ad studet that I ca’t itess o epeiece as a thid-party.
Koa #: Uo said, Look! The old is ast ad ide. Wh do ou put o ou
piest’s obe at the soud of the bell?
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Document Summary
Koa(cid:290) (cid:799): a (cid:289)o(cid:290)k asked maste(cid:325) joshu, (cid:907)does a dog ha(cid:362)e buddha-(cid:290)atu(cid:325)e? (cid:908) I would feel extremely confused and anxious if i received a two letter response from my master regarding a valid question. I (cid:363)ould(cid:290)"t e(cid:362)e(cid:290) ha(cid:362)e the p(cid:325)ope(cid:325) fou(cid:290)datio(cid:290) to sta(cid:325)t the (cid:290)ecessa(cid:325)(cid:369) thought p(cid:325)ocess to dissect the (cid:289)ea(cid:290)i(cid:290)g behi(cid:290)d the (cid:289)aste(cid:325)"s (cid:325)espo(cid:290)se. I k(cid:290)o(cid:363) that the a(cid:290)s(cid:363)e(cid:325) is supposed to elucidate the importance behind the question so that the student can gain enlightenment, and that the frustration is part of the process. The article mentioned how the student, after a long period of zazen, was able to solidify his u(cid:290)de(cid:325)sta(cid:290)di(cid:290)g of his (cid:289)aste(cid:325)"s a(cid:290)s(cid:363)e(cid:325). But i assume that the value comes from the inherent value that i am unable to unlock because koan are not meant for anyone and is rather a very complex system of words. It also relies on the relationship between a (cid:289)aste(cid:325) a(cid:290)d stude(cid:290)t that i ca(cid:290)"t (cid:363)it(cid:290)ess o(cid:325) e(cid:368)pe(cid:325)ie(cid:290)ce as a thi(cid:325)d-party.