A Buddhist monk turns to the Dalai Lama for an answer. A Buddhist monk was pondering what is the difference between a woman and a pearl, but couldn't figure it out. He gave up and decided to ask the Dalai Lama. ""Hmm, interensting question, young grasshopper - said the Dalai Lama. I do not know, but if you give me three days to meditate on this, I might have something for you"" Three days pass, the monk returns and gets this answer: ""The difference, dear son, is that a woman threads only from the front, while a pearl threads from the front *and* from behind."" The monk, a bit embarassed, says: But, Master, I know of women who thread both from the front and behind. ""Ah, said the Dalai Lama, those are not women, dear pupil, but pearls."" (Works better in Bulgarian, but it was worth a try. Translation suggestions welcome.)