ALL meanings of koan
ko·an
K k - noun koan A paradoxical anecdote or riddle, used in Zen Buddhism to demonstrate the inadequacy of logical reasoning and to provoke enlightenment. 1
- noun plural koan a nonsensical or paradoxical question to a student for which an answer is demanded, the stress of meditation on the question often being illuminating. 1
- noun koan (in Zen Buddhism) a problem or riddle that admits no logical solution 0
- noun koan in Zen Buddhism, a verbal puzzle put to a student as a means to enlightenment 0