LETTER : One-handed clap

From Mrs E. M. Dorling

Sir: When reading Richard Lloyd Parry's diary from Tokyo (16 August), I was reminded of the time many years ago when my son, aged two, provided the answer to the Zen enigma.

My husband had recently read about Zen Buddhism and confronted our baby son with the question: "If this is the sound of two hands clapping, then what is the sound of one hand clapping?" Our son promptly raised one hand and slapped his father on the cheek. Wisdom indeed.

Yours faithfully,

Elizabeth M Dorling

Long Crendon, Buckinghamshire