An introduction to Zen Buddhism

THE KOAN

objectinview.Zenisnotlikeotherformsofmysticism,entirely

lefttothesporadicnatureorcapriciousnessofluckforitsex-

perience.Thesystematizationofkoanis,therefore,theonething

thatismostcharacteristicofZen.ItisthisthatsavesZenfrom

sinkingintotrance,frombecomingabsorbedinmerecontem-

plation,fromturningintoanexerciseintranquillization. Zen

attemptsto take holdoflife inits act ofliving;to stopthe

flowoflifeandtolookintoitisnotthebusinessofZen.The

constantpresenceofthekoanbeforeourmentalvisionkeepsthe

mindalwaysoccupied;thatis,infullactivity.Satoriisattained

inthemidstofthisactivityandnotbysuppressingit,assome

mayimagine.HowmuchZendiffersfrom"meditation"asthe

latterisgenerallyunderstood, andpractised,wenowcansee

betterfromwhathasbeensaidaboveasregardsthenatureof

thekoan.

The systematizing of Zen began as early as the Five

DynastiesinChina—thatis,inthetenthcentury—butitscom-

pletionwasduetothegeniusofHakuin(1683-1768)wholived

intheTokugawaera.Whateveronemaysayagainsttheabuses

ofthekoan,itwasthekoanthatsavedJapaneseZenfromtotal

annihilation. ConsiderhowChineseZenisfaring thesedays;

sofaraswecangatheritismoreorlessamerename;and

again notice the general tendency shown in the practice of

ZenbyadherentsoftheSotoschoolinpresent-dayJapan.We

cannotdenythattherearemanygoodpointsinSoto, which

oughttobecarefullystudied,butastothelivingofZenthere

isperhapsgreateractivityintheRinzai,whichemploysthekoan

system.

Onemaysay:"IfZenisreallysofarbeyondtheintellectual

kenasyouclaimit tobe, thereought nottobeanysystem

init;infact,therecouldnotbeany,fortheveryconceptionofa

systemisintellectual.Tobethoroughlyconsistent,Zenshould

remainasimpleabsoluteexperienceexcludingallthatsavours

ofprocessor systemordiscipline. Thekoan mustbe anex-

crescence,asuperfluity,indeedacontradiction."Theoretically,

orratherfromtheabsolutepointofview,thisisquitecorrect

;

therefore,whenZenisasserted"straightforwardly"itrecognizes

nokoanandknowsofnoround-aboutwayofproclaimingitself.

Justastick,afan,oraword!Evenwhenyousay,"Itisastick,"