Shadowing Practice: Zen kōans: Unsolvable enigmas designed to break your brain - Puqun Li - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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How do we explain the unexplainable?
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How do we explain the unexplainable?
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This question has inspired numerous myths, religious practices, and scientific inquiries.
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But Zen Buddhists practicing throughout China from the 9th to 13th century asked a different question – why do we need an explanation?
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For these monks, blindly seeking answers was a vice to overcome, and learning to accept the mysteries of existence was the true path to enlightenment.
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But fighting the urge to explain the unexplainable can be difficult.
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So to help practice living with these mysteries, the meditating monks used a collection of roughly 1,700 bewildering and ambiguous philosophical thought experiments called kōans.
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The name, originally gong-an in Chinese, translates to “public record or case." But unlike real-world court cases, kōans were intentionally incomprehensible.
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They were surprising, surreal, and frequently contradicted themselves.
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On the surface, they contained a proverb about the Zen Buddhist monastic code— such as living without physical or mental attachments, avoiding binary thinking, and realizing one’s true “Buddha-nature." But by framing those lessons as illogical anecdotes, they became tests to help practicing monks learn to live with ambiguity and paradox.
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By puzzling through these confusing “cases," meditating monks could both internalize and practice Buddhist teachings.
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Hopefully, they would let go of the search for one true answer and trigger a spiritual breakthrough.
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Since these are intentionally unexplainable, it would be misguided to try and decipher these stories ourselves.
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But like the monks before us, we can puzzle over them together, and investigate just how resistant they are to simple explanations.
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Consider this kōan illustrating the practice of no-attachment.
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Two monks, Tanzan and Ekido, are traveling together down a muddy road.
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Ahead they see an attractive traveler, unable to cross the muddy path.
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Tanzan politely offers his help, carrying the traveler on his back across the street, and placing her down without a word.
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Ekido was shocked.
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According to monastic law, monks were not supposed to go near women, let alone touch a beautiful stranger.
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After miles of walking, Ekido could no longer restrain himself.
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“How could you carry that woman?” Tanzan smiled, “I left the traveler there. Are you still carrying her?” Like all kōans, this story has numerous interpretations.
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But one popular reading suggests that despite never having physically carried the traveler, Ekido broke monastic law by mentally "clinging to" the woman.
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This type of conflict— examining the grey area between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law— was common in kōans.
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In addition to exploring ambiguity, kōans often ridiculed characters claiming total understanding of the world around them.
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One such example finds three monks debating a temple flag rippling in the wind.
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The first monk refers to the flag as a moving banner, while the second monk insists that they are not seeing the flag move, but rather the wind blowing.
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They argue back and forth, until finally, a third monk intervenes, “It is not the flag moving, nor the wind blowing, but rather the movement of your minds!” One interpretation of this kōan plays on the supposed wisdom of the arguing monks— the first asserting the importance of the observable world, the second favoring deeper knowledge we can infer from that world.
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But each monk’s commitment to his own “answer” blinds him to the other’s insight, and in doing so, defies an essential Buddhist ideal: abolishing binary thinking.
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The third monk identifies their conflict as a perceptual one— both arguing monks fail to see the larger picture.
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Of course, all these interpretations only hint at how to wrestle with these kōans.
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Neither the wisdom from practicing monks before us, nor the supposedly wise characters in these stories can resolve them for you.
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That’s because the purpose of these kōans isn’t reaching a simple solution.
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It’s the very act of struggling with these paradoxical puzzles which challenge our desire for resolution, and our understanding of understanding itself.

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Context & Background

In the enlightening discourse presented by Puqun Li, we delve into the fascinating world of Zen kōans—enigmatic philosophical puzzles designed to provoke thought and introspection. The essence of these kōans lies in their ability to challenge conventional thinking and encourage practitioners to embrace uncertainty. Dating back to the 9th century in China, these puzzling anecdotes were utilized by Zen monks to explore deeper truths about existence, encouraging learners to transcend the limitations of binary thinking and simple explanations. This rich context makes the subject particularly engaging for those seeking to improve their English speaking practice, as it combines language learning with profound philosophical inquiry.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “How do we explain the unexplainable?” - An opener for deep conversations.
  • “Living without attachments” - A phrase that simplifies a complex Zen principle.
  • “It is not the flag moving, nor the wind blowing” - Great for discussions on perception and interpretation.
  • “Are you still carrying her?” - Useful in metaphorical discussions about emotional baggage.
  • “The movement of your minds!” - Impacts debates on perspectives and insights.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively tackle the complexities of this video and enhance your English speaking practice, follow this step-by-step shadowing guide. This method not only aids in comprehension but also helps you improve English pronunciation through active listening and repetition.

  1. Watch the video: Start by watching Puqun Li’s video on Zen kōans without any subtitles. Pay attention to the overall message.
  2. Listen for phrases: Replay the video and pause after each key phrase. This will help you grasp the rhythm and intonation of spoken English.
  3. Repeat out loud: Use a shadowing app or simply record yourself as you imitate the speaker's pronunciation and tone. This repetition will build your confidence.
  4. Reflect on meanings: After practicing the phrases, take time to ponder their meanings in a Zen context. This will deepen your understanding of both the language and the philosophy.
  5. Engage in discussions: Use what you have learned in conversations with peers who are also learning English. Consider using platforms or a shadowing site to find conversation partners.

By integrating the art of Zen kōans into your English learning journey, you not only advance your language skills but also foster critical thinking and a unique perspective that enriches your conversations. So, let the enigmatic nature of these kōans inspire your learning experience as you explore the depths of language and thought!

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

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