Posted by Charlie S (206.159.163.182) on August 05, 2001 at 04:46:49:
A new monk arrives at the monastery and is assigned to help other monks
> > in copying the old texts by hand.
> > He notices, however, that they are copying from copies, not the original
> > manuscripts.
> > So, the new monk goes to the head monk to ask him about this.
> > He points out that if there were an error in the first copy, that error
> > would be continued in all subsequent copies.
> > The head monk says, "We have been copying from the copies for centuries,
> > but you make a good point my son."
> > So, he goes down into the cellar with one of the copies to check it
> > against the original manuscript.
> > Hours go by and nobody sees him so one of the monks goes down into the
> > cellar to look for him.
> > He hears sobbing coming from the back of the cellar and finds the old
> > monk leaning over one of the original manuscripts and crying.
> > He asks the old monk what is wrong.
> > In a choked voice came the reply, "The word is celebrate."
Smiles, Charlie S :^)