Dharma combat - Wikipedia
Dharma combat, called issatsu (一拶, いっさつ , literally "challenge"[1]) or shosan[2] in Japanese, is a term in some schools of Buddhism referring to an intense exchange between student and teacher, and sometimes between teachers, as an occasion for one or both to demonstrate his or her understanding of the Dharma[3] and Buddhist tenets. It is used by both students and teachers to test and sharpen their understanding.[4] Practice is primarily seen in Zen traditions, particularly Rinzai Zen and the Kwan Um School of Zen. In both, it is a key component in the Dharma transmission process.[5][6]
Zen practitioners will often have a sanzen, where the student has a face to face interview with their master.[7] This is also called nishitsu, which literally means "entering the room" and refers to the student entering the room for private dharma combat.[7]
An exchange is initiated when a master issues a challenge to members either individually or as a group.[3] The master will use confrontation as an emotionally charged tool to push a student into immediate realization.[3]
