What is a koan?

A koan is a type of riddle or paradoxical statement used in Zen Buddhism to provoke deep thought and insight and facilitate spiritual awakening. It's designed to challenge logical thinking and help practitioners break through mental barriers to achieve a higher understanding or enlightenment. Often, there's no straightforward answer, and the point is to meditate on the koan until a moment of clarity or realization occurs. It’s typically a short story, question, or statement that seems illogical or contradictory at first glance. The purpose of a koan is not to find a logical answer but to push the mind beyond conventional thinking.