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Zen Stories
Just Two Words
There once was a monastery that was very strict.
Following a vow of silence, no one was allowed to speak at all. But
there was one exception to this rule. Every ten years, the monks
were permitted to speak just two words. After spending his first ten
years at the monastery, one monk went to the head monk. "It has
been ten years," said the head monk. "What are the two
words you would like to speak?"
"Bed... hard..." said the monk.
"I see," replied the head monk.
Ten years later, the monk returned to the head monk's office.
"It has been ten more years," said the head monk.
"What are the two words you would like to speak?"
"Food... stinks..." said the monk.
"I see," replied the head monk.
Yet another ten years passed and the monk once again met with the
head monk who asked, "What are your two words now, after these
ten years?"
"I... quit!" said the monk.
"Well, I can see why," replied the head monk. "All
you ever do is complain."
( This story is a favorite in many western monasteries. It may or
may not be an original Zen tale. Like any good anecdote, it makes
us laugh, but also encourages us to think about why it is funny .)
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