26-06-2007, 10:05 PM
THE MONK
After many troubled years a young man decides to become a monk and take a vow of silence. As he is about to take his vows, the abbot explains, "You will have the opportunity to speak once every five years, and then only to me." Accepting this, he takes his vows and does not speak again for five years. When the five years passed, the abbot came to see him, "Hello young monk, what do have to say?"
"My bed's made of solid wood, it hurts my back. I would like a matress."
With this, the abbot leaves. Two days pass before a matress arrives at the monk's shed.
Another five years of silence pass, and the abbot returns again.
The abbot asks if he has anything to say.
"It gets really cold here at night, in ten years, I have only owned a light blanket. I would like a decent blanket."
the abbot leaves. A few days pass, and a blanket arrives.
15 years after the monks vow of silence, the abbot returns yet again, to ask if the monk would like to speak.
"Yeah, this place is just too hard for me, for fifteen years, I have eaten like a begger and suffered the harsh winters. I am leaving."
"Good, says the abbot, you've done nothing but gripe and complain since you got here."
After many troubled years a young man decides to become a monk and take a vow of silence. As he is about to take his vows, the abbot explains, "You will have the opportunity to speak once every five years, and then only to me." Accepting this, he takes his vows and does not speak again for five years. When the five years passed, the abbot came to see him, "Hello young monk, what do have to say?"
"My bed's made of solid wood, it hurts my back. I would like a matress."
With this, the abbot leaves. Two days pass before a matress arrives at the monk's shed.
Another five years of silence pass, and the abbot returns again.
The abbot asks if he has anything to say.
"It gets really cold here at night, in ten years, I have only owned a light blanket. I would like a decent blanket."
the abbot leaves. A few days pass, and a blanket arrives.
15 years after the monks vow of silence, the abbot returns yet again, to ask if the monk would like to speak.
"Yeah, this place is just too hard for me, for fifteen years, I have eaten like a begger and suffered the harsh winters. I am leaving."
"Good, says the abbot, you've done nothing but gripe and complain since you got here."