Help to remember story source.

August 4, 2007 10:03 AM

The post on the one inch punch reminded me of a story I had heard, but I can't remember the source. The gist of it is this: A man goes to a Japanese temple to see a martial arts demonstration by visiting shaolin monks. The abbot tells him there is nothing magical about the martial arts, just dedication and practice, etc. Then one of the monks does something like the one inch punch against the temple's main column and the thunderous sound reverberates throughout the temple. The man says "I thought you said there was no magic" and the abbot responds "Ah, but that man is from Shaolin" I think i saw it as either a part of some zen stories, or possibly in a book relating to software or management. It's driving me crazy, can anyone help?
posted by bashos_frog to Religion & Philosophy (2 answers total)

Best answer: I have that book. Its about video game design. Quite a good book.

"Game Architecture and Design" by Andrew Rollings and Dave Morris.
posted by Riemann at 10:48 AM on August 4, 2007

Response by poster: thanks so much - I must've read that at the store, which is why I couldn't find it in my library. I will take this as a sign I should pick it up.
posted by bashos_frog at 2:13 PM on August 4, 2007