For the layman, "Zen" is little more than three artfully arranged letters. For the master, though, it is so much more. Zen koans, the puzzling riddles of the soul— who do they even think they are? Gawker, an online website, is here to shine light on the path to en-light-enment.

For many, "Zen" is a vague and foreign concept, as impermeable as the rock over which the river flows. Zen koans, those mystifying stories— what do they mean? And why? Gawker, an internet blog, is here to assist in the process of enlightenment.

The practice of Zen may be intimidating to newcomers. Interpretation of Zen koans— the often perplexing stories used to test a student's insight—can be confusing and discouraging. In order to facilitate general enlightenment, we will periodically assist in koan explanation.

The internet is enraptured by those knowledge suppositories known as TED talks. Mostly because the slick 18-minute YouTube lectures about Big Ideas let procrastinating office workers pretend they're doing something productive by watching them. But how are TED talks made? Here is a peek inside the searing forge fire mind of a TED presenter.

The whole field of philosophy is currently engaged in a self-referential argument over whether or not it is a "science," entirely because philosophers believe that being a "science" would get them more respect. Much of academia suffers from the same competitive affliction. Until now.

Here we are six weeks into 2012, and we've barely even stopped to contemplate all of the knowledge, wisdom, and understanding that pours forth from Northwestern University rap star and Tom Hanks scion Chet Haze. We will now remedy that. Below, a thorough review of all of Chet's wisdom shared on Twitter thus far this year. Absorb that shit.

Half a century ago, heroes like Martin Luther X and Rose Park risked their lives by marching on top of lunch counters so that kids of all races would one day have the right to catch a few "Z's" in class while the teacher showed a filmstrip of the "I Have a Dream" speech. And how do kids these days repay those civil rights heroes? By not knowing a damn thing about them.

If you're a member of the media—and aren't we all, thanks to [platitude about Twitter]?—chances are that you're going to be the subject of some "media criticism" sooner or later. Will you let it destroy you? Why? Handling it like a pro is surprisingly easy!

While your kids got a Nintendo Wii, this boy got flags. Yes, flags. He has the presence of mind to pronounce them with the same ceremonious vigor. Obscure flags, all correct. Just wait for "Central African Republic."

Every year, Beloit College publishes a "Mindset List" that reveals just how god damn young College Kids These Days are. They've never worn a wristwatch, or enjoyed an egg cream with their A-1-gal in the old-fashioned style? What the fuck?

Is coffee healthy? For the first time, scientists can definitively say, "Kind of in certain ways but in other ways probably not and for the overall question we guess it depends."

Tetrahydrocannabinol has been demonstrated to induce human glioma cell death through stimulation of autophagy! That means that weed totally cures cancer. Dude.