|
Twelve Monks
All was prepared as the chief monk commanded. The beauty danced before the first monk candidate, with no reaction. She danced before the second monk. He smiled serenely, but there was no ringing. She proceeded down the line dancing for each monk. Each time there was silence. Finally she got to the final monk. As she danced, his bell rang so briskly that it fell off and clattered to the ground. Embarrassed, he bent over to pick up the bell. Then he stood there waiting. The chief monk looked at him sternly. "Sorry," said the last monk. "Did you tell me to leave? I couldn't hear anything after I bent over, because of all the ringing."
|
Twelve monks were about to be ordained. The chief monk said "You have
all done well in the eyes of the Lord. Your final test is to line up in
a garden while a beautiful woman dances before you. Each of you will
have a small bell attached to the front of your robe. If all is silent,
you will be declared a monk. If there is any ringing, you cannot be
ordained because you have not reached a state of purity."
