In Zen Buddhism, the keisaku (Japanese: 警策, Chinese: 香板, xiāng bǎn; kyōsaku in the Soto school) is a flat wooden stick or slat used during periods of meditation to remedy sleepiness or lapses of concentration.

Keisaku is the abbreviation for Keikakusakurei. It refers to a stick to strike the meditator's shoulders or back during zazen (sitting meditation). It is called "kyosaku" in the Soto sect and "keisaku" in the Rinzai sect.

In Zen Buddhism, keisaku (Japanese; kyosaku in the Soto school) is an attempt by a sensei to alert students to their mindlessness in zazen (sitting meditation), usually administered by a stick. An English translation is stick of compassion.

This encouragement or warning stick is used in the zendo (meditation hall) to stimulate blood circulation in the back muscles and relieve tension. Features - Material: Made from Hinoki wood, celebrated for its warm color, natural grain, and subtle aromatic scent that evokes a …

A flattened stick at one end, 75 to 105 cm in length, used to strike the shoulders during zazen, to help overcome fatigue or reach satori, called keisaku in Rinzai. The kyōsaku symbolises the sword of wisdom of the bodhisattva Mańjushri, which cuts through all delusion; thus it is always respectfully handled.

A flattened stick at one end, 75 to 105 cm in length, used to strike the shoulders during zazen, to help overcome fatigue or reach satori, called keisaku in Rinzai. The kyōsaku symbolises the sword of wisdom of the bodhisattva Mańjushri, which cuts through all delusion; thus it is always respectfully handled.

In Zen Buddhism, the keisaku (Japanese: 警策, Chinese: 香板, xiāng bǎn; also called kyōsaku) is a flat wooden stick or slat used during periods of meditation to remedy sleepiness or lapses of concentration.

Sometimes someone with a not so great aim will hit the shoulder proper or graze your ear, but the stick is too light to do any harm. Despite the outlandish stories, what ever the custom may have once been, the above is my only experience with a keisaku (stick) in a modern american zendo.

Kyosaku: “Wake-up stick”; a flattened stick used by monitors in the zendo to strike acupressure points on a person’s shoulders, relieving tension and promoting wakefulness. —from The Eight Gates of Zen by John Daido Loori

Episode Description: Dr. Steven Heine explores the history, lore and use of a number of traditional Zen implements such as the staff, flywhisk and warning stick (keisaku). He focuses on how these devices, along with stones, are used by Zen Masters in an instructional manner.