A koan is a Zen saying, simply a mental process whereby one meditates on the koan to achieve enlightenment. The koan is often fully comprehensible to a layman as would be the response derived from a literal understanding but the underlying meaning is often nondescript and produces meaning to the individual who meditates on the koan.
It causes one to reach an epiphany of sorts, a fresh spontaneity or intuitive recognition of a broader meaning. The ken-po goku-i is an eight line koan for karate where the study by the individual brings about a more intuitive understanding of its symbolism toward a greater understanding of its intent. The intent with the gokui is to be enlightened toward the study, practice and training of karate.
The gokui, the karate koan, is a dialog that tests the progress of the practitioner of the art in question. In the case of martial arts it tests the progress in the study and practice of an Okinawan system of empty hand called "Ti or Te."
A personalized koan for my practice:
A person's heart is the same as Heaven and Earth while the blood circulating is similar to the Sun and Moon yet the manner of drinking and spitting is either soft or hard while a person's unbalance is the same as a weight and the body should be able to change direction at any time as the time to strike is when the opportunity presents itself and both the eyes must see all sides as the ears must listen in all directions while the mind must grasp all the tactual data not seen on all sides and not heard in any direction.
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