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koan - 4 dictionary results
ko⋅an
[koh-ahn] 
–noun, plural -ans, -an. Zen.
| a nonsensical or paradoxical question to a student for which an answer is demanded, the stress of meditation on the question often being illuminating. |
Compare mondo.
Origin:
1945–50; < Japn kōan, earlier koũ-an < MChin, equiv. to Chin gōngàn public proposal
1945–50; < Japn kōan, earlier koũ-an < MChin, equiv. to Chin gōngàn public proposal
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To koan
| ko·an (kō'än') n. A puzzling, often paradoxical statement or story, used in Zen Buddhism as an aid to meditation and a means of gaining spiritual awakening. [Japanese kōan : kō, public (from Middle Chinese kəwŋ) + an, matter.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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koan
/koh'an/ n. A Zen teaching riddle. Classically, koans are attractive paradoxes to be meditated on; their purpose is to help one to enlightenment by temporarily jamming normal cognitive processing so that something more interesting can happen (this practice is associated with Rinzei Zen Buddhism). Hackers are very fond of the koan form and compose their own koans for humororous and/or enlightening effect. See Some AI Koans, has the X nature, hacker humor.
Jargon File 4.2.0
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koan
Zen paradox, 1946, from Jap. ko "public" + an "matter for thought."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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