One night, a Delta twin-engine puddle jumper was flying somewhere
above New Jersey.

There were five people on board: the pilot, Michael
Jordan, Bill Gates, the Dali Lama, and a hippie.

Suddenly, an illegal
oxygen generator exploded loudly in the luggage compartment, and the
passenger cabin began to fill with smoke.

The cockpit door opened, and
the pilot burst into the compartment.

"Gentlemen," he began, "I have good news and bad news. The bad news is
that we're about to crash in New Jersey. The good news is that there
are four parachutes, and I have one of them!"

With that, the pilot
threw open the door and jumped from the plane.

Michael Jordan was on his feet in a flash.

"Gentlemen," he said, "I am
the world's greatest athlete. The world needs great athletes. I think
the world's greatest athlete should have a parachute!"

With these
words, he grabbed one of the remaining parachutes, and hurtled through
the door and into the night.

Bill Gates rose and said, "Gentlemen, I am the world's smartest man.
The world needs smart men. I think the world's smartest man should
have a parachute, too."

He grabbed one, and out he jumped.

The Dali Lama and the hippie looked at one another.

Finally, the Dali
Lama spoke.

"My son," he said, "I have lived a satisfying life and
have known the bliss of True Enlightenment. You have your life ahead
of you; you take a parachute, and I will go down with the plane."

The hippie smiled slowly and said, "Hey, don't worry, dude, there's
still two left. The world's smartest man just jumped out wearing my backpack."