The Zen of debugging

What is the sound of one hand clapping?

The answer is less well known. The student of Zen ponders the koan long and hard. One hand clapping? What nonsense! One hand can't clap - it takes two hands to clap.

Round and round the disciple goes. The master must be insane to ask such a question. But he knows the master is not insane. Round and round, looking at the problem from every angle. Round and round, looking under every rock, up into every tree. Round and round, convinced there is no answer. Round and round, sure that everything thought up until now is correct. Round and round and round, sure that there has been no room for error.

Round and round, looking down trails. Round and round, looking far into the sky.

Finally, the answer comes, stunning in its simplicity. The disciple exclaims aloud. He might even smite himself on the forehead for his stupidity.

The master returns.

What is the sound of one hand clapping?

And the student, suddenly jubilant, demonstrates the sound of one hand clapping.