What is Buddha? Three bushels of hemp.

"This approach is related to a kind of Zen training of the mind to receive enlightenment. The Zen term for it is koan [in Chinese gong'an, meditation theme], a dialogue in which an answer is given that defies logic. One famous koan has the student asking, "What is Buddha?" The Zen master replies, "Three bushels of hemp." In pondering how the Buddha can possibly be "three bushels of hemp," the student's thought processes fall into a great empty space, without any kind of support or foundation. Then one day he breaks through to enlightenment with the realization that the essence of Buddha exists in every moment and every aspect of life. The Zen approach to enlightenment forces you to open up your mind in the midst of something that completely goes against logic and common sense--in this way one achieves wisdom."