The Secrets of a Monk's Life
A man's car broke down as he was driving past a beautiful,
old monastery. He walked up the drive and knocked on the front
door of the monastery. A monk answered, listened to the man's
story and graciously invited him to spend the night.
The monks fed the man and led him to a tiny chamber in which
to sleep.
The man thanked the monks and slept serenely until he was awakened
by a strange sound.
The next morning, as the monks repaired his car, he asked about
the sound that woke him. The monks said, "We're sorry.
We can't tell you about the sound. You're not a monk."
The man was disappointed, but eager to be gone, so he thanked
the monks for their kindness and went on his way. During quiet
moments afterward, the man pondered the source of the alluring
sound.
Several years later, the man was driving in the same area.
He stopped at the monastery on a whim and asked admittance.
He explained to the monks that he had so enjoyed his previous
stay, he wondered if he might be permitted to spend another
night under their peaceful roof. The monks agreed and the man
stayed.
Late that night, he heard the sound. The next morning, he begged
the monks to explain the sound. The monks said, "We're
sorry. We can't tell you about the sound. You're not a monk."
By now, the man's curiosity had turned to obsession. He decided
to give up everything and become a monk if that was the only
way to learn about the sound. He informed the monks of his decision
and began the long and arduous task of becoming a monk.
Seventeen years later, the man was finally established as a
true member of the order. When the celebration ended, he humbly
went to the leader of the order and asked to be told the source
of the sound.
Silently, the old monk led the new monk to a huge wooden door.
He opened the door with a golden key. That door swung open
to reveal a second door of silver, then a third of gold and
so on until they had passed through twelve doors, each more
magnificent than the last.
The new monk's face was awash with tears of joy as he finally
beheld the wondrous source of the mysterious sound he had heard
so many years before.
Highlight your mouse over below to read the secret:
But, I can't tell you what it was.
You're not a monk
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