Zen Koans

A Koan, Japanese Kōan, in Zen Buddhism of Japan, is a succinct paradoxical statement or question used as a meditation discipline for novices, particularly in the Rinzai sect. The effort to “solve” a koan is intended to exhaust the analytic intellect and the egoistic will, readying the mind to entertain an appropriate response on the intuitive level. Each such exercise constitutes both a communication of some aspect of Zen experience and a test of the novice’s competence.

Here are a few classics I'm sure you're all familiar with. Enjoy.

• If a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it, what breed of horse is responsible for this destruction of our protected land?
  
  
• A Zen master named Gettan lived in the latter part of the Tokugawa era. He used to say: "There are three kinds of disciples: those who impart Zen to others, those who maintain the temples and shrines, and then there are the rice bags and the clothes-hangers."
  
  Gasan expressed the same idea. When he was studying under Tekisui, his teacher was very severe. Sometimes he even beat him. Other pupils would not stand this kind of teaching and quit. Gasan remained, saying: "A poor disciple utilizes a teacher's influence. A fair disciple admires a teacher's kindness. A good disciple knows a horse even in human form," and eventually slew him, burned the body, and ate the ashes in a bowl of rice.
  
  
• Joshu began the study of Zen when he was sixty years old and continued until he was eighty, when he realized Zen.
  He taught from the age of eighty until he was one hundred and twenty.
  A student once asked him: "If I haven't anything in my mind, what shall I do?"
  Joshu replied: "Throw it out."
  "But if I haven't anything, how can I throw it out?" continued the questioner.
  "Well," said Joshu, "Stare this horse in the eyes for one hour."
  To which the student replied, "I will not!"
  "Do it!" roared Joshu.
  Therefor the student did as he was told. Later that night he killed himself.