its a koan you know...its a zen meditative poem to inspire thought...so what is the hand on one hand clapping!
2007-01-25 21:27:46 · 16 answers · asked by Letitia L 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
ok lean into your monitor cause I don't know how loud I can do this....
there did you hear that?
lol ok that supremely stupid...this is not the hour of night to try and meditate...
2007-01-25 21:33:05 · answer #1 · answered by Jon C 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
What is the Sound of the Single Hand?
When you clap together both hands a sharp sound is heard; when you raise the one hand there is neither sound nor smell. Is this the High Heaven of which Confucius speaks? Or is it the essentials of what Yamamba describes in these words: "The echo of the completely empty valley bears tidings heard from the soundless sound?" This is something that can by no means be heard with the ear. If conceptions and discriminations are not mixed within it and it is quite apart from seeing, hearing, perceiving, and knowing, and if, while walking, standing, sitting, and reclining, you proceed straightforwardly without interruption in the study of this koan, you will suddenly pluck out the karmic root of birth and death and break down the cave of ignorance. Thus you will attain to a peace in which the phoenix has left the golden net and the crane has been set free of the basket. At this time the basis of mind, consciousness, and emotion is suddenly shattered; the realm of illusion with its endless sinking in the cycle of birth and death is overturned. The treasure accumulation of the Three Bodies and the Four Wisdoms is taken away, and the miraculous realms of the Six Supernatural Powers and Three Insights is transcended.
2007-01-26 07:17:03 · answer #2 · answered by MikefromKingston 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A snap!
Seriously, those posers are called "koans" are intended to be the great "huh?" kind of questions ... the kind you can scratch you head about for a long while and never achieve a complete mastery of them (the "aha!" moment).
To a Zen Buddhist, the underlying implications of that simple koan - "so what IS the sound of one hand clapping?" leads to "if one hand cannot clap, what may two people not accomplish that one cannot?" which leads to "are many people not 'better' than one person?" which leads to ...
See? what seems a nonsensical little dittywahdo becomes the basis for a meditation on the nature of society and human worth.
It's all what you make of it. Zen is the art of making skyscrapers instead of mudpies (which is a koan for free).
Cheers.
2007-01-26 06:46:58 · answer #3 · answered by Grendle 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think its a philosophical joke. Its not meant to be taken seriously but to point out the flaws in language. 'Clapping' is a two handed exercise. Your meant to laugh, not answer. Like the question "If you did have a brother, would he like apple pie" to a person who has no brother. Or like how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. It reminds us not to go too far, and understand and ask the right question first in order to get understanding. But in a humorus, lite hearted way.
Its not meant to be answered. Its a joke And inspire more thoughtfull usefull thoughts and meditation. Notice what the quetion is revealing about the human experience.
2007-01-26 07:41:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Every person has a method of clapping which may determine it's sound, but depending on the circumstances the clapper may clap harder or differently, hence creating a different sound. Whether or not you can clap with one hand or not, you should ask what a two handed clap sounds like!
2007-01-26 06:59:48 · answer #5 · answered by Mercenary Poet 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"My ears can not hear sound of one hand clapping, as well as can not hear joyful cry of the light when touch eyes of newborn for the first time.
But - I know that in life of Universe it produces equal explosion as birth of a nation or death of a king." (Emilio Salgari, White Elephant)
2007-01-26 08:06:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is like asking what is the sound of one thought not expressed. If a tree falls in the forest and you aren't there, was it heard by you? Oxymoron day?
2007-01-26 21:14:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
One hand clapping is thumping an object like the desk.... have fun!!
2007-01-26 05:51:16 · answer #8 · answered by small 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its the title of a fantastic book by Richard Flannanagan.. gret read!!!
2007-01-30 01:50:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds just like "Clap"-minus-one.
2007-01-26 11:56:20 · answer #10 · answered by clicksqueek 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋