Thus, there is either a breakdown or a breakthrough, Awakening. When the two polarizing forces rise to an unbearable intensity, they begin to clash. Paradoxically, as the doubt grows stronger, so does Faith. The purpose of a koan is to increase the Great Doubt. Hence why I’m going to give away some of the foundational principles. As Junpo Denis Kelly Roshi used to say, Zen is the perfect vehicle for awakening, if you live in medieval Japan.
Nevertheless, this approach to Zen does not seem as efficient today.
Historically most Zen teachers would offer very little instructions or clarifications to their students, on the premise that words can be quite misleading. 3 Mistakes To Avoid When Meditating With Koans.