Explore the Mu Koan and Zhao Zhou’s riddle. Learn how this Zen Buddhist paradox uses 'nothingness' to break mental binaries and trigger a path toward enlightenment.
The 'nothingness' of Zen is not a mental state you 'achieve' and then keep in your pocket; it is a lived, non-dual reality where the 'nothingness' of the self is the 'everythingness' of the world.
The philosophical meaning of 'nothingness' within the context of the Mu koan (Zhao Zhou's dog).
The Mu Koan is a famous paradoxical riddle used in the Zen tradition to trigger enlightenment. It originates from a story where a monk asks the teacher Zhao Zhou (also known as Chao-chou) if a dog has Buddha-nature. Zhao Zhou’s one-word response, 'Mu,' serves as a barrier and a mirror that forces practitioners to confront a profound sense of nothingness, ultimately dissolving the dualistic thinking that separates the self from reality.
Zhao Zhou, often referred to as Chao-chou in older translations, was a famous master of the Zen tradition. He is central to this Koan because of his response to a monk's inquiry about the Buddha-nature of a dog. By shouting the single syllable 'Mu,' Zhao Zhou provided a negative particle that functions as more than a simple denial; it acts as a spiritual tool designed to cut through mental noise and the weight of religious tradition.
In the context of the Mu Koan, nothingness is not merely an empty void but a lived reality that serves as the ground of freedom. The Koan uses the word 'Mu' to break down common binaries such as success or failure, self or other, and being or non-being. By confronting this 'great nothingness,' an individual can move past the binary logic of 'Yes' and 'No,' allowing them to experience a reality where there is nothing left to hold onto.
From Columbia University alumni | built in San Francisco
avg rating
7.84k+ App Rating
BeFreed Community
Seriously I haven’t even explored this app fully yet but from using it the last few days I am so impressed... BeFreed is on a different level from any other learning app I have used. This makes it ultra engaging and can actually improve your concentration which is great for all the doom scrollers!
@ladyInfinity
I bought BeFreed exactly 23 days ago, and I have used it every single day since. It has completely embedded itself into my daily workflow and learning habit.
@jayallen
The truth is, the app has exceeded all my expectations. I can ask it to generate audio on any topic, whatever it may be, and the result is impressive. My professional field is a specialization in psychotherapy and it is multidisciplinary; however, the answers are very accurate.
@Raguipa
What I appreciate most is how much it's reduced my scrolling – I'm spending less time searching and more time absorbing information. The combination of full audiobooks, podcasts, the learning plans are brilliant.
@colonyofcreatorsNGO
I have been a PhotoReading Accelerated Learning Instructor for the past 24 years... books and reading and learning are my thing, and BeFreed has done a great job in providing an innovative approach to disseminating and delivering information in an easy to consume way.
@BeFreed user
It is not just a book summary app, I have used the 'fun reading' option and it's a much better summary and way to grasp ideas the traditional way, that alone is worth this deal.
@austinakon
I love this app. Used it for several days and I cannot stop listening. Such a great way to start.
@jcrules328
I really like the program; I have already tested it for around one month, and I feel that it's an amazing gem. It works so well because I can use BeFreed to create my own topics, and the voice is so good with unlimited choice of narrations.
@DanielCZ
I love the fact that I can get useful, condensed, information and ideas in a 8 - 15 minute podcast style audio. I'm not a general fan of podcasts because of all the fluff, but this cuts through all that.
@BeFreed user
I am finishing up my doctorate, and have to read a lot of unfamiliar material... With BeFreed, you simply enter a prompt, and the app finds source material for you and generates an audio podcast. I find the process in BeFreed to be more streamlined than NotebookLM.
@Brad
I often search YouTube for something to listen to whilst making breakfast, when I'm out walking, commuting, etc, and BeFreed has provided an even more targeted approach, without the adverts and the fluff!
@BeFreed user
The absolute best part about this platform is its versatility. There is literally no subject that is off-topic. It handles whatever you throw at it... It is rare to find an learning tool with zero limitations that actually delivers on its promises.
@jayallen
BeFreed is fantastic. The user-friendly design means I spend less time navigating and more time learning. The mix of audiobooks, podcasts, and learning plans is a genius combo that has completely changed my daily routine.
@BeFreed user
At the start I needed a while to understand how to create podcasts in italian language and boom! It is so great! I can ask to explain every argument and it does so well and so smartly!
@matteo77
BeFreed has become my daily app for audio books tools... What I like the most is the way you put your text and come with an audio that you can listen on the go.
@kotanzu1
