Ahhh... Watermelon!
Somewhere along the line you've probably heard of this thing called a "Zen Koan"-- a question or statement that cannot be "gotten" by the rational mind.
For centuries, Zen Masters have used them as a way to confound their students' habit of thinking too much -- with the intention of shocking the mind into a state of true awareness.
Appropriate responses to a koan may vary according to circumstances. Different teachers may demand different responses to a given koan on a given day. A fixed answer cannot be correct in every circumstance.
Sound familiar?
The Master -- Zen or otherwise -- is not looking for an answer in a specific form, but for evidence that the student has grasped something beyond duality, beyond mind, beyond all the strategizing and mental static that separates the seeker from the finder.
And now for the moment of truth...
"Where do you get the seeds to grow seedless watermelons?"
If you think you know the answer (or better yet, don't think, but know the answer anyway), click "sign in" below and lay it on me. I'll be giving away a copy of my new book, Awake at the Wheel, to the three people who submit the best answer in any of the following categories:
1. Funniest
2. Most Zen-like
3. Most accurate
All responses will be posted HERE within the next two weeks. Stay tuned.
And now... go eat some watermelon!
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at July 4, 2008 09:58 AM
Comments
You don't!
Posted by: BobH ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.ideachampions.com/heart/nav-commenters.gif)
at July 5, 2008 11:14 AM
This is a question that has a simple scientific answer.
The simple Zen answer is that you get the seeds of seedless watermelons from seeded watermelons.
Now for the scientific explanation. Almost all higher organisms (plants and animals) have 2 sets (diploid) of chromosomes (the genetic material that determines our shape and function). Some organisms have 3 sets (triploid) either by natural design or through human manipulation (e.g. radiation, chemical treatment). Seeds that grow into seedless watermelons have 3 sets of chromosomes (triploid). They are created by mating a triploid parent plant (male) with a diploid parent plant (female). The diploid parent (female) produces watermelons with seeds but these seeds are triploid (from the male parent). These triploid seeds then produce plants with seedless watermelons because the extra set of chromosomes interferes with seed production in the fruit (it also results in sterile pollen which is why you must interplant seeded watermelons with seedless watermelons and use honey bees to bring fertile pollen from the male flower on the seeded watermelon plant to the female flower on the seedless watermelon plant).
Oh, by the way, I know this because I grow seedless watermelons and I am a agricultural research scientist.
Posted by: Gssmith at July 7, 2008 10:44 AM
Hah! My ignorance was not clarity but just ignorance. Thank you Gssmith.
Posted by: BobH at July 10, 2008 12:14 PM
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