What is another word for koan?

Pronunciation: [kˈə͡ʊɑːn] (IPA)

Koan, a term derived from Zen Buddhism, refers to a paradoxical statement or question designed to challenge one's thinking and lead to greater understanding. Synonyms for koan can vary depending on one's perspective, but some possible alternatives include enigma, puzzle, riddle, conundrum, challenge, mystery, and paradox. Each of these terms conveys a sense of something that is difficult to comprehend or solve, yet holds the potential for transformative insight. By engaging with koans or their synonyms, individuals can expand their awareness and deepen their understanding of complex and unconventional ideas.

What are the hypernyms for Koan?

A hypernym is a word with a broad meaning that encompasses more specific words called hyponyms.

What are the hyponyms for Koan?

Hyponyms are more specific words categorized under a broader term, known as a hypernym.
  • hyponyms for koan (as nouns)

Usage examples for Koan

He always gets better when I sing- 'Manabozho a ne we guawk, koan dan mau wah, ne we guawk, koan dan mau wah, ne we guawk.
"The Myth of Hiawatha, and Other Oral Legends, Mythologic and Allegoric, of the North American Indians"
Henry R. Schoolcraft

Famous quotes with Koan

  • Here is another example of violating one's nature in the name of nobility, an example that shows the larger dangers of false love. Years ago, I heard Dorothy Day speak. Founder of the Catholic Worker movement, her long-term commitment to living among the poor on New York's Lower East Side—not just serving them but sharing their condition—had made her one of my heroes. So it came as a great shock. when in the middle of her talk, I heard her start to ruminate about the "ungrateful poor." I did not understand how such a dismissive phrase could come from the lips of a saint—until it hit me with the force of a Zen koan. Dorothy Day was saying, "Do not give to the poor expecting to get their gratitude so that you can feel good about yourself. If you do, your giving will be thin and short-lived, and that is not what the poor need; it will only impoverish them further. Give only if you have something you must give; give only if you are someone for whom giving is its own reward."
    Parker Palmer

Related words: koan meaning, koan stories, famous koans, what is a koan, koan examples, what is a koans, koans the word of god

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