ORIGINALITY and IMITATION
A Teaching Story – Gutei’s Finger
I always exhort my students to be original and not imitate (or plagiarize) especially while conducting dissertation studies, writing research reports, etc
In order to drive home this point I like to tell them one of my favourite teaching stories: GUTEI’S FINGER
Whenever anyone asked him about Zen, the great master Gutei would quietly raise one finger into the air.
A boy in the village began to imitate this behaviour.
Whenever he heard people talking about Gutei’s teachings, he would interrupt the discussion and raise his finger.
Gutei heard about the boy’s mischief.
When he saw him in the street, he seized him and cut off his finger.
The boy cried and began to run off, but Gutei called out to him.
When the boy turned to look, Gutei raised his finger into the air.
At that moment the boy became enlightened.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
VIKRAM KARVE educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU and The Lawrence School Lovedale, is an Electronics and Communications Engineer by profession, a Human Resource Manager and Trainer by occupation, a Teacher by vocation, a Creative Writer by inclination and a Foodie by passion. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. His delicious foodie blogs have been compiled in a book "Appetite for a Stroll". Vikram lives in Pune with his family and pet Doberman girl Sherry, with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile of Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
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