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Define koan and describe its purpose in zen discipline?

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Answer:

koan literally means public record. An encounter between master and student in Tang dynasty China would produce an insight for the student into the nature of reality. These encounters were recorded during Song dynasty China and began to be used as teaching tools especially in the Linji (China) or Rinzai (Japan) schools of Zen Buddhism.

First answer by Moon.meyers. Last edit by Moon.meyers. Contributor trust: 1 [recommend contributor ]. Question popularity: 2 [recommend question].

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