i first heard this in high school. good times. I didn't really 'get it' until a few years ago though. 8 )
2007-03-20 23:01:21 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Trivia
Clue word:
koan
give me your own answers now
2007-03-20 23:08:12 · update #1
A koan is a multi-level structural device that is used in Zen practice to help a person expand their awareness. Koans can be long or short, verbal or non-verbal. Probably the most famous Zen koan in the West is: "The sound of one hand clapping."
At first glance a koan often appears to be a meaningless phrase. What great insights can be gained by thinking about the sound of one hand clapping? However when you focus intently on a koan for extended periods of time, the nature of reality can be revealed to you.
Koans often juxtapose two or more incongruous concepts. Normally we think that it takes two hands to clap. How can one hand clap? What does it clap against? Your finite mind can think about this, analyze it and get frustrated.
Unlike your finite mind, your infinite mind is not bound by the rules of time and space. It has ten thousand states of mind to view and examine experience through. With the use of your infinite mind you can understand the clapping of one hand and many other things that would seem incomprehensible to your finite mind.
2007-03-25 19:23:32 · answer #1 · answered by miladybc 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Philosophy - It Is The First Question Asked When You Start A Class In Philosophy, Just Like What Sound Did The Tree Make When It Fell? In Other Words, UNANSWERABLE??
2007-03-23 23:23:10 · answer #2 · answered by Plazie W 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
clap-----1 : to strike (as two flat hard surfaces) together so as to produce a sharp percussive noise
2 a : to strike (the hands) together repeatedly usually in applause b : APPLAUD
Therefore, one hand can ONLY approach the definition of a "clap" IF it strikes something---and THAT----- would be defined as a SLAP
Conclusion--- one hand can not clap --- therefore the premise of "one hand clapping" is false
2007-03-20 23:36:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
its a muffled sounding clap. You do it by quickly slapping your palm of your hand with all your fingers of the same hand.
2007-03-20 23:05:17 · answer #4 · answered by Sporadic 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
A very good book.
2007-03-21 01:55:55 · answer #5 · answered by Hosebeast-ess to be 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the same as the tree falling in the forest with noone to hear it.
2007-03-20 23:27:48 · answer #6 · answered by llamamamma 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
can you call it Clapping when your just using a hand ? maybe its tapping ?! hehehehe :)
2007-03-21 01:17:13 · answer #7 · answered by andrey 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A snap..as in fingers
2007-03-21 02:04:23 · answer #8 · answered by DAP 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is a retorical question
2007-03-24 16:26:46 · answer #9 · answered by Clay 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It would be the sound of silence.
2007-03-20 23:31:56 · answer #10 · answered by lilabner 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋