Re: The Meaning of Life
Lee Daniel Crocker (lcrocker@calweb.com)
Tue, 11 Feb 1997 12:24:51 -0800 (PST)
> Observe this [true] koan:
>
> Eliezer was explaining the Meaning of Life to a novice.
> "Really," he said, "I know the Meaning of Life."
>
> "What is it?" asked the novice, who was skeptical.
>
> "It is -" began Eliezer, but suddenly sneezed.
>
> And the novice was enlightened. In fact, she was enlightened so hard
> she had trouble breathing. And thus Eliezer knew he was a True Zen
> Master.
I love it, but it's a mondo, not a koan (some koans, like Joshu's "mu",
come wrapped in mondos). I'd love to collect or create a good set of
modern American mondos and koans, because the traditional ones often
depend on the culture of old Zen patriarchs more than is necessary.
Especially the traditions of Buddhism, that Zen really has nothing to
do with at its heart.
Here's an American koan for you: Tell me, what is you car's
destination, right now?