How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? When you hear that question, your mind may first make up a story around it. You may feel as though you are 35 forever (like Hallie), or maybe just 20 years old. Whatever the answer is, the question came from a “kōan,” or a Zen riddle that is used to get us out of our minds and into our awake and conscious state. This week, Hallie and I dig deeper into the concept of kōans, and how we can use them as a tool to watch how our minds work and to unravel greater truths about the world and ourselves. We talk about how being truly awake means a commitment to serve, and why life has the ability to just keep getting better and better if we let it.
In this episode, you will learn about:
- What you can learn from a kōan, or Zen riddle, to help us discover greater truths about ourselves and the world around us
- What true enlightenment looks like
- The more you are awake, the more you contribute and serve others and those around you.
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Timestamps:
[2:35] We answer the question: how old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? For Hallie, her mind tells her that she would be 35.
[4:47] We tend to believe that things get worse or slow down as we get older, but really we can have lives that get even richer, more fulfilled, and more joyous. Maya Angelou is voice lighting the path to show us that it’s possible to have even more fun in your 60s, 70s, and beyond.
[6:29] What exactly is a kōan? A kōan is a riddle or puzzle that Zen Buddhists use during meditation to help them unravel greater truths about the world and themselves. They are designed to foster faster growth to enlightenment.
[8:50] A well-known kōan is “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” This cannot be described with the intellectual mind, but our mind will still try to put together concepts or images that tell us a story.
[13:00] Until you experience something, like love, you can’t explain it, and then the words are very difficult to find.
[19:00] True enlightenment is when we know that we can use our mind as a tool, instead of being controlled by our minds.
[19:30] An awakened being recognizes when they are being taken out of their center of balance and when they are not. They also focus less on their own needs, and have a deep awareness and knowing that true enlightenment comes from when we help others and contribute to our society.
