Larry explains how he has slept well despite what is to come the following day:
"'Zen... You'd be surprised how much better a few koans are than sleeping pills, if you know how to use them.'" (p. 62)
I do not know how to use them. Rinzai Zen is koans whereas Soto Zen is zazen, "just sitting."
If it is known that there is no answer to a koan, then why try to find an answer? There are several suggested answers to "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" One answer is found in a Batman short story when the Harlequin slaps the Joker's face.
I question whether knowing "how to use" koans is better than sleeping pills although I have no experience of koan practice. Zazen might, or might not, quieten the mind.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Well, ancient chestnuts like "Why did the chicken cross the road?" might be thought to have a "koan" look. We see some of these riddling questions being used by Holger Carlsen when he deceived the troll in THREE HEARS AND THREE LIONS. To say nothing of the riddling contest between Bilbo and Gollum in THE HOBBIT!
Ad astra! Sean
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