Retreat examines how ‘koans’ work for you

What are koans?

Nobody knows who the questioner was, back in Tang Dynasty China, but the master was a very old Zen teacher named Zhaozhou. His reply, which he probably gave with a laugh and a sweep of his arms, startled the dozing monks around him, and one of them wrote down the exchange. A new Zen koan or “case” was created.

Twelve centuries later, the koan is still being passed along – a packet of freedom that anyone can open up and find a big change of heart, or sometimes a subtle shift that will stay with you like a good tune.

No special skills needed

John Tarrant taught Zen in traditional ways for 20 years before discovering that the usefulness of koans doesn’t depend on strenuous study or special skills.

He founded the Pacific Zen Institute in Santa Rosa, wrote a book called Bring Me The Rhinoceros & Other Zen Koans That Will Save Your Life and began to travel around, developing new ways of teaching with koans.

The koan retreat

A group, guided by Tarrant, quickly learns from the reactions of its members and most people catch on quite easily and joyously in a few hours.

Discovering the usefulness of koans is just a beginning. The event opens up pathways into this new way of exploration, alone and with others in small and larger informal settings that last from an afternoon to as long as seven days.

After attending the event on March 4, locals will be invited to join a koan salon in Nevada City that will meet once a month on a Sunday afternoon.

For more information about the event, contact Jenny by calling 530-478-9028 or emailing jennywunderly@sbcglobal.net