A boy goes for a bike ride.

A boy goes for a ride, taking his brand new bike out on the mountain trail. He goes up a hill and down a hill and round a bend and through a tunnel and over a bridge and across a road, until he finds himself near an old monastery. As he pulls up, a car comes racing out of nowhere and slams into a tree. The monks rush out of the monastery to save the wounded driver, pulling him from the wreckage.

A quick glance reveals the man is in great pain, and likely won't survive. The head monk recognizes this, and leans close, whispering into the dying man's ear. Instantly, the man relaxes, a serene calm taking over him, and he dies comfortable and pleased.

The boy, watching all this, pushed his bike towards the monks. He walked to the head monk, and asked, "What did you say to him?" The head monk smiles, shakes his head, and says "Can't tell ya, you ain't a monk."

The boy responds "How do I become a monk?" The head monk thinks, then says, "Leave. If you come back in ten years, I will help you become a monk."

So the boy leaves, and he goes back down the trail. He goes across a road and over a bridge and through a tunnel and round a bend and up a hill and down a hill, until he's home.

Ten years pass, and the boy, now a man, hops on his bike and goes down the same trail. He goes up a hill and down a hill and round a bend and through a tunnel and across a road until he reaches the monastery.

The man walks up to the monastery, and when he knocks, the head monk comes to the door, and says "Good. Now you can become a monk."

A year passes, and the man trains like the monks, eats like the monks, and sleeps like the monks. Thinking he is ready, he goes to see the head monk.

He travels through the halls, past the wide courtyard, into the tall tower where the head monk stays. He goes up and up and up and up and up the stairs to the top, and knocks three times on the head monk's door. He enters, and asks, "Will you tell me now what you told the man eleven years ago?" The head monk smiles and shakes his head, saying "No, not yet. You must truly become one of us. Wait ten years, live with us, and I will tell you."

The man accepts this, and turns to leave. He goes down and down and down and down and down the stairs to the bottom, out of the tower, past the wide courtyard, and through the halls.

He spends the next ten years living like the monks, training like the monks, eating like the monks, sleeping like the monks, and finally the day comes.

He travels through the hall, past the wide courtyard, into the tall tower where the head monk stays. He goes up and up and up and up and up the stairs to the top, and knocks three times on the head monk's door. He enters, and asks, "Will you now tell me what you said to the man twenty one years ago?" And the head monk smiles and says "Yes, come close."

And do you want to know what he said?



Can't tell ya, you ain't a monk.