In Zen teaching a koan is an eternal truth expressed through a conundrum, such as: what is the sound of one hand clapping? When the Zen student comes to his master for instruction, he is given first a koan to fathom and to sweep away the clouds of unknowing, allowing enlightenment to occur. Recorded and handed down from master to master, monastery to monastery, the koans in this selection are organized in order of ascending difficulty, and accompanied by brief explanations. The book is one of a three-volume series which also includes "Haiku: the Poetry of Zen" and "Sayings: the Wisdom of Zen".
- ISBN10 0752221701
- ISBN13 9780752221700
- Publish Date 24 January 1997
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 15 February 2010
- Publish Country IE
- Publisher Gill
- Imprint Newleaf
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 64
- Language English