Samurai's Classic Koan: Meditating On Paradoxical Truths

Samurai warriors were known for their martial arts mastery and sword skills, and they followed the strict way of the warrior code, or bushido. Zen Buddhism, which swept Japan in the 12th century, heavily influenced the samurai, who meditated to achieve spiritual strength and clarity in combat. A classic koan, or paradoxical riddle, that samurai may have meditated on is What is the sound of one hand clapping? This koan, like others, cannot be solved using intellectual reasoning and instead requires deep reflection and exploration beyond one's thoughts.

Koans are stories, dialogues, questions or statements from Chinese Chan Buddhist lore

Samurai Zen meditation is a practice that helps to create harmony between the mind and body, and it originated in the late 6th century in the Himalayan foothills. It is a type of Zazen meditation, which promotes the development of "Mushin", a mind free from fear, anger, and ego. This was particularly important to the samurai, who were elite warriors in pre-modern Japan. They were heavily influenced by Zen Buddhism, which swept the nation in the 12th century, and it complemented their martial arts training.

There are three forms of Zazen meditation: concentration meditation, koan meditation, and serene reflection. Concentration meditation involves focusing on the breath, allowing thoughts to drift through the mind. Koan meditation involves deep reflection on a koan, a paradoxical riddle that cannot be solved using intellectual reasoning. Finally, serene reflection is the practice of "just sitting", where the practitioner is aware of their consciousness and surroundings but does not think about them.

An example of a koan is "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" Another is "What is Buddha?" with the answer "Three pounds of flax". This nonsensical answer is designed to encourage introspection and reflection.

A Zen parable tells the story of a samurai who visits a monk and demands to be taught about heaven and hell. The monk insults the samurai, who becomes furious and threatens him with his sword. The monk then says softly, "That's hell." The samurai realises the compassion of the monk and bows in gratitude, to which the monk says, "And that's heaven."

Koans are used to achieve kenshō ('seeing one's true nature')

Koans are paradoxical riddles that were developed to inspire a breakthrough into an awakened state of mind. They are used to achieve kenshō, or seeing one's true nature.

Kenshō is a term used in the Zen tradition to refer to the mystical experience of oneness and seeing one's true nature. It is a temporary experience, a glimpse into awakening, and has been described as "the dropping away of body and mind". It is not to be attached to, as it is not the end of the path but rather the beginning.

Samurai, or warrior pupils, of the early Kamakura Zen period in Japan were trained by Zen teachers who made up koans on the spot, in what came to be called "skin Zen" or "on-the-instant Zen". This was because the samurai had no bent for scholarship and could not be taught through the classical koans from Chinese records.

A classic koan that samurai would meditate on is "The Picture of Beauty". In 1299, when Fukada Sadatomo came to Kenchoji for a ceremony, he met the teacher in a room where there happened to be a picture of the contemporary Sung dynasty beauty Rei Shojo. He asked the master, "Who is that?" The teacher replied, "It is said it happens to be Rei Shojo." Sadatomo looked at the picture admiringly and remarked, "That picture is powerfully painted and yet of the utmost delicacy. Is that woman now in the Sung country (China)?" The teacher said, "What do you mean, in the Sung? Now, here, in Japan." The noble said, "And where is that?" The master said loudly, "Lord Sadatomo!" The noble looked up. "And where is that?" said the teacher. Sadatomo grasped the point and bowed. What did he grasp?

This koan, and others like it, were used to lead samurai to a breakthrough from their usual fear of death.

Koans are not meaningless riddles or puzzles

The book Samurai Zen: Warrior Koans by Trevor Leggett is a collection of 100 koans, including the well-known "Mu." The book also includes commentaries on the koans by Zen masters.

One example of a koan is "No. 4. DAIKAKU’S ONE-WORD SUTRA." The story goes that in 1249, the 'Old Buddha' Daikaku was invited from Kyoto by the shogun Tokiyori to spread Zen in the East of Japan. Some priests and laymen of other sects spread rumours that Daikaku was a spy sent to Japan by the Mongols, and he was transferred to Koshu. Daikaku was not disturbed by this and gladly followed his karma.

Some officials who believed in the repetition of the formula of the Lotus or the recitation of the name of Amida came to him and said: “The Heart Sutra which is read in the Zen tradition is long and difficult to read, whereas Nichiren teaches the formula of the Lotus which has only seven syllables, and Ippen teaches repetition of the name of Amida, which is only six. The Zen Sutra is much longer, and it is difficult to get through it.”

Daikaku replied: “What would a follower of Zen want with a long text? If you want to recite the Zen sutra, do it with one word. It is the six- and seven- word ones which are too long.”

Master Setsuo would present this story as a riddle to his pupils, asking them to find the one-word sutra. Over the years, people tried the words ‘heart’, ‘Buddha’, ‘dharma’, ‘God’, and ‘mantra’, but none of them were correct.

Another example of a koan is "No. 64. THE PICTURE OF BEAUTY." In 1299, when Fukada Sadatomo came to Kenchoji for a ceremony, he saw a picture of the contemporary Sung dynasty beauty Rei Shojo and asked Master Saikan, “Who is that?”

The teacher replied, “It is said it happens to be Rei Sho ̄jo.”

Sadatomo looked at the picture and remarked, “That picture is powerfully painted and yet of the utmost delicacy. Is that woman now in the Sung country (China)?”

The teacher said, “What do you mean, in the Sung? Now, here, in Japan.”

The noble said, “And where is that?”

The master said loudly, “Lord Sadatomo!”

The noble looked up.

“And where is that?” said the teacher.

Sadatomo grasped the point and bowed.

Koans are an important part of samurai meditation, which is a useful tool for creating harmony between the mind and body. Samurai meditation involves achieving total concentration of mind and body, which can lead to greater awareness and control.

Koans are used to teach the identity of opposites

Koans are stories, dialogues, questions, or statements from Chinese Chan Buddhist lore, used in Zen Buddhist practice to provoke the "great doubt" and initial insight of Zen students. They are not meaningless or nonsensical, but rather, they are used to break beyond concepts in meditation and to teach the identity of opposites.

A central theme of many koans explores the theme of nonduality. For example, the well-known koan, "Two hands clap and there is a sound, what is the sound of one hand?" is about duality and nonduality. Another example is "What is your original face before your mother and father were born?"—the phrase "your original face" alludes to the original nonduality.

Koans are also understood as pointers to an unmediated "Pure Consciousness", devoid of cognitive activity. However, Victor Hori criticizes this understanding, stating that pure consciousness without concepts would be a "booming, buzzing confusion".

Koans are not riddles or puzzles, and teachers do expect students to present an appropriate response when asked about a koan.

Koans are also understood as pointers to an unmediated Pure Consciousness

Koans are not meaningless riddles or puzzles, but they are also not meant to be answered in the traditional sense. Instead, they are pointers to an unmediated "Pure Consciousness", devoid of cognitive activity.

Koans are stories, dialogues, questions, or statements from Chinese Chan Buddhist lore, supplemented with commentaries, that are used in Zen Buddhist practice. They are used to achieve kenshō, or 'seeing one's true nature'.

Koans are not meant to be analysed for their literal meaning, but they do require an understanding of the context from which they emerged. For example, the famous 'Mu' koan is a fragment of Case No. 1 of the Wúménguān:

> A monk asked Zhàozhōu, "Does a dog have Buddha nature, or does he not have Buddha nature?"

> Zhaozhou said, "Wú".

Here, 'Wu' means 'no', 'not', 'nonbeing', or 'without' in English. However, the monk is referring to the understanding of the teachings on Buddha-nature, which are understood in the Chinese context of absolute and relative reality.

The continuous pondering of a koan leads to kensho, an initial insight into "seeing the (Buddha-)nature". The aim is to see the nonduality of subject and object. This is achieved when the practitioner becomes the koan that they are trying to understand.

Koans are not meant to be solved, but to be companions that draw your attention to something you already have but might not have valued. They are not meant to change your mind about reality, but to show you that reality is on your side.

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