1  definition  found 
 
  From  Jargon  File  (4.2.3,  23  NOV  2000)  [jargon]: 
 
  koan  /koh'an/  n.  A  Zen  teaching  riddle.  Classically,  koans 
  are  attractive  paradoxes  to  be  meditated  on  their  purpose  is  to  help  one 
  to  enlightenment  by  temporarily  jamming  normal  cognitive  processing  so 
  that  something  more  interesting  can  happen  (this  practice  is  associated 
  with  Rinzei  Zen  Buddhism).  Hackers  are  very  fond  of  the  koan  form 
  and  compose  their  own  koans  for  humororous  and/or  enlightening  effect. 
  See  {Some  AI  Koans},  {has  the  X  nature},  {hacker  humor}. 
 
 

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