Definition
Reading: shiku / Sanskrit: catuṣkoṭi
四句 (Catus-koti) is a logical form consisting of four types of propositions originating from ancient India that examines a subject through four perspectives: "It is A (Being)," "It is not A (Non-being)," "It is both A and not A (Both being and non-being)," and "It is neither A nor not A (Neither being nor non-being)." In Japanese, it is pronounced as "Shi-ku."
Q&A
- Q: Why does Zen deal with the complex logic of "Catus-koti"?
- A: Because it is used to deconstruct the "assumptions (attachments)" that human thought tends to fall into from every possible direction.
We tend to think of things in binary terms of "existence" or "non-existence," but reality does not fit into either. By pushing logic to its limits using it, it ironically highlights the "truth that cannot be captured by words."
