upaya, n.All

Upaya (n.) or ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠"skillful means" are the Zen master's old tricks and traps for unwary students — ploys of one-upmanship used out of compassion.

Upaya (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the teacher's "skillful means": a roundabout device for waking a student to a truth that cannot be approached head-on.

Upaya (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the Buddhist art of skillful means: handing a child a yellow leaf to stop it crying for gold.