Today's koan
Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.
Nothing about the task changes. What changes is whether you are there for it. Pick one chore today and do only that.
What is a koan?
A koan is a short exchange, question or saying from the Zen tradition. It is not a riddle with a clever answer. It is something to keep company with: read it once, sit quietly, and notice what it stirs up.
A new one appears here each day. For the background, read What is a koan? A beginner's guide.
All koans
Chop wood carry water
Zen saying
Wash your bowl
The Gateless Gate, case 7
Sound of one hand
Hakuin Ekaku
Not the wind not the flag
The Gateless Gate, case 29
Ordinary mind is the way
The Gateless Gate, case 19
Original face
Traditional, after Huineng
Every day is a good day
Yunmen, Blue Cliff Record, case 6
Cypress tree in the courtyard
The Gateless Gate, case 37
A day without work
Baizhang Huaihai
The grass grows by itself
Zenrin Kushu
Finger pointing at the moon
Traditional Buddhist saying
Fall seven times
Japanese proverb
Hundred foot pole
The Gateless Gate, case 46
One time one meeting
Japanese tea saying (ichi-go ichi-e)
When hungry eat
Zen saying
Three pounds of flax
The Gateless Gate, case 18
The great way has no gate
Wumen Huikai, preface to The Gateless Gate
Ruiyan calls master
The Gateless Gate, case 12
Empty your cup
Zen story of Nan-in and the professor
Forget the self
Dogen, Genjokoan
Mu
The Gateless Gate, case 1
Not knowing is most intimate
Book of Serenity, case 20
The flower and the smile
The Gateless Gate, case 6
One finger
The Gateless Gate, case 3
Bring me your mind
The Gateless Gate, case 41
The staff
Bajiao, The Gateless Gate, case 44
The man in the tree
Xiangyan, The Gateless Gate, case 5
The whole earth is medicine
Yunmen, Blue Cliff Record, case 87
Sun faced buddha
Blue Cliff Record, case 3
Have a cup of tea
Sayings of Zhaozhou
Walking is zen
Yongjia, Song of Enlightenment
Picking and choosing
Sengcan, Xinxin Ming
Polishing a tile
Traditional story of Nanyue and Mazu
Heat and cold
Blue Cliff Record, case 43
The best season
Wumen Huikai, The Gateless Gate, case 19
The stone bridge
Blue Cliff Record, case 52
Is that so
Traditional story of Hakuin
The strawberry
Traditional Zen parable
The moon cannot be stolen
Traditional story of Ryokan
Are you still carrying her
Traditional story of Tanzan and Ekido