Zen Koans Explained: &quot;A Smile in His Lifetime&quot;S

Imagine opening a bag of Scrabble letters and scattering them across the ground. You look down, and "Z-E-N" is spelled out at your feet. Your face remains expressionless. In your hand is an empanada. But it's not time to eat.

The koan: "A Smile in His Lifetime"


Everyone watched Mokugen's severe face, but no one answered.



Encho reached out and moved the cup back again.


The enlightenment: A nonsense teacher teaches nonsense.

This has been "Zen Koans Explained." If it has.

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