koan technique works

[mattrox]

they are called kong-ans and they are used by monks to answer dharmas and questions.  I have a whole book of 236 of them.

[weagle]

When I was taught it they referred to them as koans but I understand that is probably the proper pronounciation in the zen/chan practice.  They're pretty good and work very well, they also help you get to the causal plane which is above the astral ie the spirit world i have yet to go to the causal plane yet but i guess if one keeps practicing their koan they may get there. Now I hear in zen there is something even more powerful than koans called silent illumination, I am not ready to go to that stage yet cause the prequisites have to be that you are very very calm I guess after doing regular meditation.

[weagle]

if you have problems ap'ing the best technique to silence the mind or keep it on one thing is to give it a question it cannot answer which is called a koan.  for example pretend a tree is hanging over a cliff with a rope and you are holding onto it with your teeth with your hands/legs tied behind your back and you try to find a way out which there isnt but you try to figure things out ie swing around then stand still and hope an answer comes then if mind gets chattery again keep doing it over and over again til the mind is completely quiet.  Two times I managed I think conscious ap's from it one time i had a falling sensation then i slowly crawled out, second time I felt like my physical body could move a bit but was difficult but it wasnt my physical body i imagined the roll technique bruce says and i rolled out turned around saw myself on the bed so this is a wonderful technique give it a shot if all fails.