Zen parables are short stories or anecdotes used in Zen Buddhism to
illustrate spiritual principles and provoke deeper understanding. These
parables often feature simple, everyday situations and characters, but
contain profound lessons about the nature of reality, the self, and the
*path to enlightenment*.

== Key characteristics of Zen parables

Through the use of Zen parables, the tradition seeks to point students
toward the direct realization of their own _Buddha-nature_ - the
inherent enlightenment that is the true nature of all beings. Some key
characteristics are as follows:

* Paradoxical or illogical statements that challenge conventional
thinking
* Use of humor, absurdity, or unexpected twists to jar the listener out
of habitual patterns of thought
* Emphasis on direct experience over abstract concepts or _intellectual
analysis_
* Focus on themes like non-duality, impermanence, and the limitations of
language and logic

== Some Famous Examples

Well-known examples of Zen parables include "The Sound of One Hand
Clapping", "The Zen Master and the Persistent Student", and "Catching
the Catfish with Bare Hands". These stories are meant to be _meditated
upon_ and experienced directly, rather than simply understood
intellectually. The goal is to cultivate a state of openness, presence,
and insight that transcends the dualistic thinking of the everyday mind.

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To know more about Zen Seethe Wikipedia page 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen

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