kohoan

Kohoan is a Japanese term that refers to a type of koan, a riddle or paradox used in Zen Buddhist practice. Koans are not meant to be solved through logical reasoning but rather through intuition and direct experience. They are designed to break down the practitioner's conventional thinking and lead to a deeper understanding of reality.

The word "kohoan" itself can be translated as "public case" or "case in point." This suggests that these koans are drawn from the experiences and enlightenment of past Zen masters, serving as examples of how to overcome intellectual obstacles. Unlike more abstract koans, kohoan often present a specific, sometimes narrative, situation. The practitioner is then asked to embody the situation and find their own realization within it.

The purpose of working with a kohoan is to exhaust the analytical mind. By confronting an unanswerable question or paradoxical scenario, the student is encouraged to transcend dualistic thought and arrive at a state of non-judgmental awareness. This process is often guided by a Zen master who will assess the student's responses and provide further direction. The ultimate goal is satori, or enlightenment.