Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Social Sciences
  4. / Philosophy
  5. / More Philosophy

by Massey on January 28th, 2005

Massey

Question

Help answer this question below.

What is the sound of one hand clapping?

  • Like
  • Report
Share:
Other

Answers. Showing one answer.

  • by allanbz on February 2nd, 2005

    allanbz

    This is one of the most famous beginnings to a Zen koan in the West, though it is relatively recent. A koan is akin to a mini-catechism, though where in Christian catechisms, the content (answers) is more important, in Zen Buddhism, the process of working out the proper responses to the koan is emphasized as the movement towards enlightenment. The student's wrong responses are punished somehow.

    The student is eventually supposed to work out the response to this initial question as standing in front of the questioner and thrusting one arm, palm out, straight at the questioner. The questioner then continues with the rest of the koan.

    Comments

    • That isn't the only acceptable response. Doing nothing is also acceptable. Doing nothing is doing something!lol

      Woodii

      by Woodii on April 3rd, 2006

    • Sounds like you've been reading about Zen instead of practicing. Bad boy! Hold out your hand to be slapped.

      Stableboy

      by Stableboy on September 4th, 2006

    • Ouch! lol..And who taught the Buddha!

      Woodii

      by Woodii on August 5th, 2008

    • Like
    • Report

    3 comments | Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading What is the sound of one hand clapping?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

Answerbag

a Demand Media company