Dhyāna in Buddhism "silent illumination." This became the source of some differences in practice between the Línjì and Cáodòng schools. A kōan, literally "public case", is a story or dialogue, describing an interaction between a Zen master and a student. These anecdotes give a demonstration of the master's insight. Koans emphasize the non-conceptional insight that the Buddhist teachings are pointing to. Koans can be used to provoke the "great doubt", and test a student's progress in Zen practice. Kōan-inquiry may be practiced during zazen (sitting meditation), kinhin (walking meditation), and throughout all the activities of daily life. Kōan practice is particularly emphasized by
Reality in Buddhism Reality in Buddhism Reality in Buddhism is called "dharma" (Sanskrit) or "dhamma" (Pali). This word, which is foundational to the conceptual frameworks of the Indian religions, refers in Buddhism to the system of natural laws which constitute the natural order of things. "Dharma" is therefore reality as-it-is ("yatha-bhuta"). The teaching of Gautama Buddha constituting as it does a method by which people can come out of their condition of suffering ("dukkha") involves developing an awareness of reality ("see" mindfulness). Buddhism thus seeks to address any disparity between a person's view of reality and the actual state of things. This is