Word Zendo

[evilkeen]

The Buddha has kept to his word and has graciously agreed to give some indication of just how pleasing or otherwise he finds his students offerings:

Buddha's platinum star words: underhand, budding comedians

Buddha's gold star words: deliberated, chelsea bun, haddock, halibut

Buddha's silver star words: hard, paddle, liberated, bath, dastardly, Republican

Buddha's bronze star words: kumquats, dinghy, fluffy cat, smooth snake, chocolate eclair, chocolate, chelsea, bun, lard, happy, good things of life, Obama, Democrat, libation, alcohol, bus, kathlyn, SparkOut, Scurra, Little Britain, Matt Lucas, David Walliams

Buddha's tiresome timewasters (but showing some promise): easy, kiwifruits, home, away, transit, travel, juice, smoothie, curry, naan, fish, chips, raft, fluffy, cat, smooth, snake, Twisted Evil, good, short, brook, eclair, fettered, dogs, cats, rat, mate, gutter, McCain, train, car, aeroplane, bicycle, magic carpet, walk, cod, plaice, Monty Python

Buddha's totally unworthy words: creek, evil, long, river, slimy, pong, grovels, kingsley

Buddha's pleasing puzzlers: SparkOut, kingsley, kathlyn, Scurra

[kingsley]

Does the budda regularly have a bath or does he like to pong?

[evilkeen]

The Buddha indeed is very pleased to take a bath, and so would never pong!

[kingsley]

Would the budda rather have dogs or cats for pets? Or perhaps he'd like a rat as a mate.

[kathlyn]

I think that buddah is a happy buddah and likes the good things of life.
I also think that he is not a dastardly in anyway and never grovels in the gutter.

[evilkeen]

Well you never know what the Buddha is going to say!

He has turned down all of Kingsley's offerings - no dogs, cats, rat or mate!

Kathlyn has fared a little better - he is indeed very happy with the good things of life, and indeed he never grovels in the gutter, but he does confess to more than the odd dastardly moment!

[Scurra]

Truly you are a generous Master. Surely if the student is so presumptuous as to make multiple offerings, then should even one fail they should be denied? Otherwise, I might offer you a great number of things in the hope that one or two of them may strike lucky...

As it is, this student is utterly bewildered - I had hoped that you would be accepting the cats...

May I enquire whether the Buddha voted for Obama or for McCain?

[evilkeen]

Truly you are a generous Master.

Probably just an inexperienced one! I have just consulted with the Buddha, and he has indeed confirmed that Scurra's interpretation of the rules is correct, i.e. just one pair of words, one acceptable and one not acceptable is required to secure at guess at the rule. Sorry for the confusion!

However student Scurra has been successful, as the Buddha was very pleased that Obama won - McCain would not have been good in his opinion.

[evilkeen]

but he does confess to more than the odd dastardly moment!

In fact I heard that he can be surprisingly partial to underhand deals.

[giraffe]

Is it the man that Buddha likes or his politics. Is Buddha a Democrat or Republican by inclination?

[evilkeen]

It's definitely the man, as he can see merit in both Democrat and Republican policies!

[SparkOut]

Truly you are a generous Master. Surely if the student is so presumptuous as to make multiple offerings, then should even one fail they should be denied? Otherwise, I might offer you a great number of things in the hope that one or two of them may strike lucky...

The Buddha is patient but does not like to be pestered. One or two enquiries are happily entertained, perhaps a third with no displeasure. A student should wait for instruction before guessing too many times, however - although if they are not guesses, and the student wishes to draw attention to the fact that he or she may have found the way, then additional zeal will be happily indulged. Any number of students may individually seek simultaneous guidance - a student need not wait for another to receive his or her instruction before requesting consideration of his or her own submission.

My personal interpretation is that Kathlyn should be permitted one attempt, but it should be recognised by all that each word suggested as valid should be directly compared with a corresponding suggestion of something that is held to be invalid.

Now then, oh generous and kind Master, would you be able to say whether the Buddha would make a libation at the local shrine, or would he think that's a waste of alcohol?

[evilkeen]

My personal interpretation is that Kathlyn should be permitted one attempt

On reflection that's probably right.

but it should be recognised by all that each word suggested as valid should be directly compared with a corresponding suggestion of something that is held to be invalid

Definitely what the Buddha said!

The Buddha would make a libation, and he regards alcohol as a precious substance!

On the subject of which, the Master has an important appointment with the Buddha in the tasting house, so will be unavailable for further consultation until a little later.

[LAT]

Might I enquire of the master whether the Buddha has a preference for travel by train as being more environmentally friendly than a car?

[evilkeen]

The Buddha is not keen on travel by train or by car. In fact the Buddha is rather fussy when it comes to travel. He will not go by aeroplane, bicycle, magic carpet or even walk. He goes everywhere by bus.

[evilkeen]

After extensive consultations in the tasting rooms earlier, the Buddha was feeling rather hungry, and was extremely pleased with the haddock and halibut on offer in the local chippery, but did not like the look of the cod or plaice.

[giraffe]

I see buddha is now pleased with four people, but I'm sure he has favourites.

Does he prefer kingsley or kathlyn?

[evilkeen]

Student giraffe has misinterpreted the Buddha's preferences, as he prefers kathlyn to kingsley. He also favours SparkOut and Scurra (Sorry kingsley!)

[SparkOut]

I'm beginning to wonder whether the Buddha is just making it up at random - but no, I will humbly ask of the Master, does the Buddha prefer Monty Python to Little Britain?

[evilkeen]

The Buddha much prefers Little Britain to Monty Python.

In fact he thinks that Matt Lucas and David Walliams are both budding comedians.