In Zen Buddhism, a koan is a paradoxical question or statement posed by a teacher. Because it contains illogical or self-contradictory ideas, the koan challenges students to assume an open, inquiring attitude. Perhaps the most famous koan is, “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” Another one is, “When your mind is not dwelling in the dualism of good and evil, what is your original face before you were born?” * **
Generally, koans are designed for students who are in an ordinary state of consciousness, meaning that they see the world dualistically—through paired opposites like good/evil, us/them, right/left, birth/death, male/female, and so on. When confronted with a koan’s illogical, paradoxical question, novices’ minds often become confused, and they are unable to answer.
Caught in this mental conundrum, they sometimes give mechanical answers that the teacher recognizes and rejects. After many failed attempts, novices eventually realize that their conceptual mind cannot find the desired result. Now perceiving the limits of dualistic thinking, they open to unexplored parts of their psyches. When an authentic answer finally arises, it comes spontaneously, like a flash of lightening, from the wordless depths of their being. Resting in this new state of awareness, students perceive the world— at least for a while—as a unity, free of conflicting polarities.
When we begin an Art of Surrender session, we often start in the realm of duality. As we draw and write about our ordinary self and our divine nature, these aspects of ourselves may seem separate or opposed. The personality is the superficial, passing self; the divine indwelling is deep and enduring.
But when we take the next Art of Surrender step and create a third, new depiction, we invite these two polarities to merge. This joining may be done mechanically, just as the Zen koan can be produced robotically: An image or phrase is created (or a Zen answer is given) by the surface mind. But, when generated from our depths, the third, integrating Art of Surrender symbol (like the authentic Zen answer) is not “thought up.” It is received, not conceived. Then, something new arises.
The Art of Surrender requires patience, trust, and attentiveness—a willingness to loosen control and allow the wisdom of our original nature to rise up and inform the “small me.” The resulting integration symbol comes as a surprise to the ordinary mind. During each three-step Art of Surrender process, as in Zen koan study, individuals begin in duality, but end by contemplating unitive, non-dual awareness.
Notes
*According to Zen writer, Nancy Wilson Ross, the answer to this koan has parallels to the mysterious saying of Jesus, “Before Abraham was, I am.”
** The wording of these two koans comes from An Introduction to Zen Buddhism by D. T. Suzuki, reprinted in The World of Zen by Nancy Wilson Ross.