A koan is a story, puzzle, or dialogue that contains wisdom that can be gleaned by intuition. Koans may not always make logical or rational sense, but the intent is to appeal to the intuition and make you look within for answers.

The Sound of One Hand

The master of Kennin temple was Mokurai, Silent Thunder. He had a little protégé named Toyo who was only twelve years old. Toyo saw the older disciples visit the master’s room each morning and evening to receive instruction in sanzen or personal guidence in which they were given koans to stop mind-wandering.

Toyo wished to do sanzen also.

“Wait a while,” said Mokurai. “You are too young.”

But the child insisted, so the teacher finally consented.

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