I'm familiar with Rinzai accounts of Dokusan in which a student is required to demonstrate knowledge of a Koan in order to see if the student has achieved Kensho. In some books there is talk of degrees of enlightenment, etc.

In Soto Zen there is no striving, even as we strive. I see that there is Dokusan that is informal.

So since we do not sit with koans, though we study them, how does the master know that a student truly understands in Soto Zen?

How can the teacher know that the student has learned that which cannot be taught? How can the student demonstrate understanding of something that is not a concept?

Gassho

Klb

Sat today