Your Favorite Koan

[Alan Armstrong]

If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one there to hear it does it make a sound?

koans are a way to broaden a person's awareness.

Yes, there's a sound when a tree falls...anywhere because it's impossible for the felled tree to not make any type of sound when it comes in contact with the ground or whatever it might be. But does the tree become self aware that there's no one there to hear that it's fallen?

What if the tree is only 1" tall when it falls, would it still make a sound if it fell?

Perhaps the tree died before it fell, therefore was unaware of others to hear that it had fallen.

[sensei8]

If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one there to hear it does it make a sound?

koans are a way to broaden a person's awareness.

Yes, there's a sound when a tree falls...anywhere because it's impossible for the felled tree to not make any type of sound when it comes in contact with the ground or whatever it might be. But does the tree become self aware that there's no one there to hear that it's fallen?

What if the tree is only 1" tall when it falls, would it still make a sound if it fell?

Perhaps the tree died before it fell, therefore was unaware of others to hear that it had fallen.

No matter its size, or the lack thereof, a sound will still be made directly or indirectly. And had the tree died, it wouldn't have the self-awareness that there's no one to hear it in any capacity because when life has reached in finality, it's awareness isn't of a concern at all. When I pass away, I won't know how my wife is coping or how my children are doing or if I've been buried in the ground or if I've been cremated or if my wife's remarried or when my wife/kids pass away or this or that...because I'll be dead; I won't know that either.

And for every question, I believe this...

The summation of 'why' is to the summation of 'because'!!

[Alan Armstrong]

If a tree fell in a vacuum or in outer space it wouldn't make a sound.

Perhaps the concept of sound is beyond the scope of trees.

Perhaps if a tree is a giant redwood the concept of falling is not an option.

As we all travel on different paths on this road called life, in death we all reach the same destination.

Therefore, those we think we are leaving behind will catch up with us sooner or later.

[sensei8]

If a tree fell in a vacuum or in outer space it wouldn't make a sound.

None that we know of.

Perhaps the concept of sound is beyond the scope of trees.

For me, that would be quite assumptive...perhaps!

Perhaps if a tree is a giant redwood the concept of falling is not an option.

However, sound will be emitted somehow and someway because the concept of falling might be replaced for...what's next?!?

As we all travel on different paths on this road called life, in death we all reach the same destination.

Therefore, those we think we are leaving behind will catch up with us sooner

or later.

Perhaps we do and perhaps we don't; we've not had someone return from beyond to report their finding, and by what means do we research said findings?!

[DWx]

Reminds me of Schrödinger's cat....

[Alan Armstrong]

Paradoxes exist all around us. While trying to explain our known universe we also need to ignore it.

It seems that the more paradoxical it is the more closer we are to the truth.

In our MA world "The pacifist fighting Shaolin Monks" Why do many learn martial arts from people that don't fight?

Car insurance agencys hear the same excuse over and over again, by drivers that crash their cars.

"I was driving along, then suddenly out of nowhere I hit a tree"

(The sound of one hand clapping is the sound of silence)

If I was asked to take a vow of silence, I would say "OK I'll start tomorrow"

If you were the only person on the planet, would you still practice martial arts?

[bushido_man96]

Did anyone stop to ask why the tree fell in the first place?

[sensei8]

Paradoxes exist all around us. While trying to explain our known universe we also need to ignore it.

It seems that the more paradoxical it is the more closer we are to the truth.

In our MA world "The pacifist fighting Shaolin Monks" Why do many learn martial arts from people that don't fight?

Car insurance agencys hear the same excuse over and over again, by drivers that crash their cars.

"I was driving along, then suddenly out of nowhere I hit a tree"

(The sound of one hand clapping is the sound of silence)

If I was asked to take a vow of silence, I would say "OK I'll start tomorrow"

If you were the only person on the planet, would you still practice martial arts?

I ask the same often, as to the first bold type above, because if one doesn't fight, then there's no actual comparison that they relate to for a effective reference point. However, just because they don't fight, that, imho, doesn't mean that they aren't knowledgeable as to it. Some MAist lead an existence of peace/pacifist, nonetheless, they might be that bull in a china closet. In short, one can't judge a book by its cover!!

As to the second bold type above, NO, I'd not practice the MA if I was the only person on the planet. However, there's quite a lot of real estate on planet earth, so I might practice the MA, if I knew what it is, just in case I'm not totally alone. On the other side of the coin, am I the only one on the planet EVER? Or am I the lone survivor of some disaster that wiped mankind from the face of the earth? In the first case, if I'm the truly the only one ever, then its possible that the MA doesn't exist for one reason or another

[Alan Armstrong]

Koans could also improve "mindfulness skills"

Such as not crashing in to trees that can appear from nowhere.

As martial artists having keen senses of perception is important; agreed?

Quick responses to situations that are potentially life threatening are very much in the scope of martial art training; agreed?

Having quick mental reflexes balanced with quick physical responses can improve a martial artist considerably; agreed?

Koans can improve your wits and can help you to be more alert; agreed?

Circumstances can be paradoxical at times, know both sides of the story at the same time, then you will be the one holding the key to the locked door.

Be intelligent in situations using psychology.

If someone is bothering you, that they say that they know you and you want that person to go away.

Telling them to go away, just doesn't work, but if you say "Yes, I remember you know, you owe me money.

How quick will they leave you alone?

Resorting to fighting skills in many situations can be avoided, hoeing you koan skills are more practical in the art of battling with many everyday situations.

We can unconsciously make enemies, this is a careless way of being; to be thoughtful is the intelligent way to keep the peace.

[george45]

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