Zendo—Rules for Beginners

The following rules are suitable for beginning students.

A koan has the Buddha-nature if and only if…

  • all its pieces are the same color.
  • all its pieces are the same size.
  • all its pieces are flat.
  • it contains at least one red piece.
  • it contains at least one small piece.
  • it contains at least one piece of each of the four colors.
  • it contains no green pieces.
  • it contains no large pieces.
  • it contains at least one medium yellow piece.
  • it contains exactly two pieces.
  • it contains two or more upright pieces.
  • it contains a piece pointing at another piece.
  • it contains an ungrounded piece.
  • it contains at least one green piece and at least one blue piece.
  • it contains at least two pieces that are touching each other.