koan

[ koh-ahn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Zen.

, plural ko·ans, ko·an.

a nonsensical or paradoxical question to a student for which an answer is demanded, the stress of meditation on the question often being illuminating.

koan

/ ˈkəʊæn /

Origin of koan¹

1945–50; < Japanese kōan, earlier koũ-an < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese gōngàn public proposal

Origin of koan¹

from Japanese

This is one of the meanings of the famous Zen koan, “If you see the Buddha on the road, kill him.”

This is a Zen koan of American political thought, a perfect yin and yang.

The question of how to combat 9/11 amnesia while moving forward can feel like a Zen koan.

April 18, 2024petrichor

[pet-ri-kawr]

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