On Fri, 18 Oct 1996 10:37:15 -0700 (PDT) Joseph Palmer wrote:

: On Fri, 18 Oct 1996, Sebastian Weinberg wrote:
: 
: > On Fri, 18 Oct 1996, Richard Lawson wrote:
: > 
: > : Will this be a continuing talent for Ranma, or is this a one time thing?
: > 
: > It seemed to me that this was one of the things that the Zen
: > Buddhists call an experience of enlightenment, i.e. a
: > non-permanent expansion of perception or similar that leaves a
: > lasting expression.

Uh, I meant "impression" of course.  <boggle>


: Do you mean enlightenment for the author, for Ranma, or for the reader?

Well, the enlightenment of the author stands without question in
this case (we knew that already);

	Baka! Yamenasai-yo! I am only pointing out the obvious. (But my
	mind is a very strange place indeed.)

 I was indeed talking about an
experience of enlightenment for Ranma (transient but not without
effect).

	Wait, what is Ranma?

		Hint... --->  (Just squiggles on paper) Doh!

	How can paper be enlightened? And surely the story itself
	was not so affected, after all it's only a few invisible
	magnetic marks on a rapidly spinning disk. Should you
	print it, the printer is not enlightened, if you should
	then tack it to a tree, the tree is not enlightened.

	It is graffiti of the mind.

		No sandblasting can erase it.

		No paint can cover it.

		No one can see it but you. 

		If you plot to avoid it, it will find you in the plot.

		If you seek to find it, it will lure you away. Follow it.

As to enlightenment of the readers - It's not possible!
That's one of the three fundamental laws of the Universe:

1. Kun-chan is always right.

	Mu.	

2. You can't faze Tendou Kasumi

	She is my teacher.

3. Fanfic readers can resist enlightenment indefinitely.

	Excercise: Go to a grave yard and never look for the strings....
		     ....for the rest of your life.)


	J.

__________________

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If you have ice cream, I will give it to you.

			-- An Ice Cream Koan.