What is Zen Buddhism? The Japanese name for Chinese “Chan” (for “to think”) Buddhism, Zen or Chan Buddhism is best illustrated, not described, and among the very best of illustrations is one of the most well-liked of Zen koans, a word that’s loosely translated as “teaching parable.”
A Zen Master was relaxing with two disciplines one day by having cake and tea. Suddenly he took his fan and threw it at one of them, asking, “What’s this?” The disciple caught the fan and started fanning himself, whereupon the Master exclaimed, “Good! Good!” He took another fan and threw it at the second disciple with the same question. This second disciple also caught the fan, but used it as an eating utensil with which to serve the Master some cake. The Master clapped, “Good! Good!”
And that’s the essence of Zen Buddhism. Yes, that.
What does it mean?
An explanation would actually rob you of the full power of the koan. If you don’t “get” the koan, it is best to keep thinking about it until finally you do. Any further discussion would be most meaningful once you’ve discovered the meaning for yourself. Or put it this way: Which would you rather have, porn or sex?
Sure, porn is very easily obtainable, whereas sex takes work (not only performing it but wooing the lady in the first place!), but one is no doubt a really pale reflection of the other. Likewise, “giving away the answer” will be like explaining a joke; even when you finally understand, that “zzzzt!” feeling is lost forever.
But rest assured that the koan presented above is one of the best illustrations of what Zen Buddhism is all about, since it illustrates Zen on so many levels. It is at once non-sensical and eminently brilliant. It’s funny and quirky and even puzzling but entirely logical and in fact easy to understand.
It is Zen. It is life.
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