Q. If I already know intellectually that I am the true-Self, what steps still need to be taken to become enlightened? That is, how can I know with my heart what I already know in my head?

A. Koans are the best expedients not only to check whether you really have correct intellectual knowledge of the true-Self but also to turn your intellectual knowledge into your experience. Intellectual knowledge of the true-Self is to koans as the basic explanation of arithmetic rules are to exercises in arithmetic. No matter how much basic explanation of arithmetic rules you have learnt by heart, it is of no use at all if you cannot solve the numerical calculations you face in your daily life. Strictly speaking, you cannot be said to have intellectual knowledge of arithmetic rules in this situation.

In the same way, the intellectual knowledge that you think you have is not knowledge of the true-Self but no more than a kind of hearsay of it until you have realised it through experience in person. The best way to solve your problem is to struggle with koans. That is practice.

©Boo Ahm

All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway

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