I've always enjoyed it and with Mark's explanation, gained more insight. Submitted for your enjoyment:
If you have no ice cream, I will take it away.
If you have ice cream, I will give it to you.
This is the ice cream koan.
Brian
Submitted by Greg Akins on Thursday January 18th, 2007 9:20 am
I think the "Juggling Koan" could more accurately be called a Kata; since it had concrete advice; and didn't appear to be in the class of question that "One Hand Clapping" appears to be in.
If I take your Ice Cream away, I remove suffering. Hence the want of Ice Cream demands that I give you something else (some metaphysical Ice Cream) that will replace your perceived suffering.
So if you don't have Ice Cream, I need to take away your perceived suffering by replacing your wants with understandings of your needs. Then you're suffering will be relieved not by getting what you want; but by understanding what you need.
:-)
Submitted by Mark Horstman on Thursday January 18th, 2007 11:10 am
Kata
That was a great Koan.
I think the "Juggling Koan" could more accurately be called a Kata; since it had concrete advice; and didn't appear to be in the class of question that "One Hand Clapping" appears to be in.
If I take your Ice Cream away, I remove suffering. Hence the want of Ice Cream demands that I give you something else (some metaphysical Ice Cream) that will replace your perceived suffering.
So if you don't have Ice Cream, I need to take away your perceived suffering by replacing your wants with understandings of your needs. Then you're suffering will be relieved not by getting what you want; but by understanding what you need.
:-)
An Ice Cream koan
Holy Moly! I bow to thee, senseis.
And I was wrong. It's Ko-awn. Not cone.
LOL!