<P> A kōan ( 公案 ) ( / ˈkoʊ. ɑː n / ; Chinese : 公案 ; pinyin : gōng'àn , ( kʊ́ŋ ân ) ; Korean : 공안 kong'an ; Vietnamese : công án ) is a story , dialogue , question , or statement , which is used in Zen practice to provoke the `` great doubt '' and test a student 's progress in Zen practice . </P>
<P> A kōan ( 公案 ) ( / ˈkoʊ. ɑː n / ; Chinese : 公案 ; pinyin : gōng'àn , ( kʊ́ŋ ân ) ; Korean : 공안 kong'an ; Vietnamese : công án ) is a story , dialogue , question , or statement , which is used in Zen practice to provoke the `` great doubt '' and test a student 's progress in Zen practice . </P>
what is the purpose of koans in zen buddhism
what is the purpose of koans in zen buddhism
to provoke the `` great doubt '' and test a student 's progress in Zen practice
to provoke the `` great doubt '' and test a student 's progress in Zen practice