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The practice of koan meditation involves contemplating paradoxical statements to deepen one's understanding of reality from "summary" of Dogen's Manuals of Zen Meditation by Carl Bielefeldt
Koan meditation is a distinctive form of Zen practice that can be traced back to the early Chinese Chan tradition. It involves contemplating paradoxical statements or questions that are intended to disrupt normal patterns of thought and perception. By engaging with these seemingly nonsensical or illogical statements, practitioners are encouraged to move beyond conventional modes of understanding and tap into a deeper, more intuitive level of awareness. The practice of koan meditation is not about trying to solve a riddle or puzzle in a conventional sense. Instead, it is a process of letting go of intellectual analysis and allowing oneself to be fully present with the paradoxical statement. This can be a challenging and frustrating experience for many practitioners, as it requires them to confront their own limitations a...
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