Spherical cow
post by dkl9 · 2024-11-11T03:10:27.788Z · LW · GW · 0 commentsThis is a link post for https://dkl9.net/essays/spherical_cow.html
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"Are you about to assume the lotus position?" asked Pat.
"I'm about to assume a spherical cow," retorted the Zen master.
"That's a physicist's term," Pat noted.
"I studied physics when I was younger," continued the master. "Physics will teach you how to send a rocket to the moon. It can't teach you how to properly experience the process of building the rocket. Nor how to cope if a cosmic ray fries the electronics and ruins the mission."
"Are you about to assume the lotus position?" asked Pat.
"I'm about to assume a spherical cow," retorted the Zen master. "Really, I'll simplify further than the physicists. A physicist might sit thinking. I will just sit."
The master sat.
"Are you about to assume the lotus position?" asked Pat.
"I'm about to assume a spherical cow," retorted the Zen master.
"What's the spherical cow doing?"
"The cow is doing zazen," explained the master. "It may be rolling down a hill."
"Are you about to assume the lotus position?" asked Pat.
"I'm about to assume a spherical cow," retorted the Zen master.
The phrase was new to Pat. "Surely you jest. Cows are far from spherical."
"How should I know that?" the master mused. "There are no cows around monasteries."
"Are you about to assume the lotus position?" asked Pat.
"I'm about to assume a spherical cow," retorted the Zen master.
"Has the spherical cow Buddha-nature, or not?"
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