it out for repair. However, I have found that only one percent of my
　　　　  cases need to be sent out. As someone with no technical background
　　　　  and little formal education in computer science, I feel pretty good
　　　　  about that score. The point is not that I am an extraordinary
　　　　  troubleshooter--it's that if I can learn to do this anybody can.
　　　　  Buddha-nature
　　　　  I could offer more examples, but more might cloud the issues and
　　　　  thus tell you less. The above statement is similar to a Zen koan, a
　　　　  kind of puzzle Zen masters give to students to make them think
　　　　  beyond their normal frame of reference--and to drive them crazy. The
　　　　  modern equivalent is minimalist comic Steven Wright's story about
　　　　  buying a cordless extension cord.
　　　　  One of the most famous Zen koans is the question, "Does a dog have
　　　　  Buddha-nature?" I suggest you meditate on these questions: Does a
　　　　  systems librarian have Buddha-nature? Does a computer? But first,
　　　　  you must hear the rest of the famous koan concerning dogs: "If you
　　　　  answer yes or no, you lose your own Buddha-nature."
　　　　  Parallels between Zen masters and systems librarians:
　　　　　　　　　　 Zen Masters　　　　　　 Systems Librarian
GOAL　　　　 Satori--the state of　　 Solving the problem
　　　　　　 perfect enlightenment.　　 so I can go back to
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 reading my e-mail.
METHODS　　  Meditate to achieve　　  Play with things
　　　　　　 a blissful state.　　　　 until they start
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 working
　　　　　　 Think about Zen koans:　　 Read the manual:
　　　　　　 impossible sounding　　  impossible sounding.
　　　　　　 puzzles that lead to a　　 directions that lead
　　　　　　 state of no-mind.　　　　 to the state of no-luck.
　　　　　　 Being hit with a stick.   Hitting the computer
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 with a stick.
　　　　　　 Fasting.　　　　　　   Eating.
SURVIVAL　　 Gong into the village　　 Going to the peer
　　　　　　 with a rice bowl　　　　 review committee