noun
- paradoxical riddles or stories used in Zen Buddhism to provoke enlightenment and test a student’s progress in meditation
Usage: Buddhism; plural of koan
Examples
- The Zen master presented his students with several challenging koans.
- She spent hours contemplating the meaning of ancient koans.
- The most famous of all koans asks: ‘What is the sound of one hand clapping?’
- Buddhist monks use koans as tools for spiritual development.
- These koans are designed to transcend logical thinking.
- The teacher assigned three different koans for meditation practice.