a koan

[David Foreman]

	The student climbed the great mountain and after many days found the
teacher meditating on a cliff.  The student approached the teacher with a
question.
	"Teacher," he said, "I have read Gravity's Rainbow and I have read
Infinite Jest.  Some of my colleagues tell me that Gravity's Rainbow is a
far better book that Infinite Jest.  I enjoyed them both and I do not
understand why Gravity's Rainbow is better.  What is the difference?"
	The teacher stood and grabbed the student by the collar.  "This is
Gravity's Rainbow."  He threw the student over the cliff.  The surprised
student plummeted many yards to the earth below.  When he landed, the
student found himself at the feet of the master!
	"And this,"said the teacher, again grabbing the student by the collar, "is
Infinite Jest."  The student was thrown from the cliff and fell many yards
to the earth below.  He landed on a great rock.  From the cliff high above
him, he could hear the distant voice of his teacher, "Now do you understand?"