You just let the body answer the question rather the mind. If you start thinking about a koan, it's too late. The answer has to pop out instantaneously. Koans usually contain a "mind-hook" designed to suck a person into intellectualizing. If the question is seen through, and the mind-hook ignored, the body simply responds.
Here's an easy example:
If you meet an enlightened woman on the path, how do you greet her with neither words nor silence?
Little children can answer this question easily, but there are three mind-hooks in the koan that prevent many adults from responding.
Why is the sky blue?
How many hairs do you have on your head?
What is the true nature of a dog?
What happens in deep sleep?
What is the fastest way to enter the Kingdom of God?
(Lifting hand) Is it I or God who lifts this hand?
Which is correct, volition or no volition?
(asking a man) Are you still beating your wife? Answer yes or no.
What is reality, really?
The more one gets out of the mind and into the body the funnier such questions/koans become.
Here's an easy example:
If you meet an enlightened woman on the path, how do you greet her with neither words nor silence?
Little children can answer this question easily, but there are three mind-hooks in the koan that prevent many adults from responding.
Why is the sky blue?
How many hairs do you have on your head?
What is the true nature of a dog?
What happens in deep sleep?
What is the fastest way to enter the Kingdom of God?
(Lifting hand) Is it I or God who lifts this hand?
Which is correct, volition or no volition?
(asking a man) Are you still beating your wife? Answer yes or no.
What is reality, really?
The more one gets out of the mind and into the body the funnier such questions/koans become.
