The Stephen Chong Blog

The master was one day tending his garden.  It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining gaily and the breeze whistled past in a gentle cadence that barely rippled the water of the lily pond.

All of a sudden, a young apprentice poked his head around the garden wall and beckoned to speak to the master, to which the affable master bade the young man to come and sit under the cool of the pergola and speak what was on his mind.

“Master”, said the young minion, “why is that in order to learn to become a master just like you, we must cloister ourselves away in the monastery and have neither the pleasures or pastimes that many people of the villages have to amuse and entertain themselves with?”

Upon hearing such an astute question from such a young novice, the master let out a howl of joyous laughter that resonated around the garden.

“My son”, he said, “if only it were so that man could achieve mastership amongst all of the distractions that are available in the villages these days.  What with all of the amusements and pleasurable diversions that one can find, it hardly seems possible that anyone can achieve more than a modicum of spiritual awareness.”

“Yet my young man, do not be downhearted, for in reality it is much easier to attain enlightenment in the village, than it is here in the monastery.”

“But master”, exclaimed the young novice incredulously, “how can this be so?  The monastery gives us a quiet refuge away from all of the noise and distractions that the village commands.  It allows us peace from the constant barrage of desires that the village projects.”

“That is quite so, young man!  But when you realise that achieving mastership is ‘best’ done in the village and not in the monastery, then you yourself will be ready for the title of master.”

“But master”, exclaimed the confused young novice, “how can this be?” 

“Young man, is it not best to become realised that you do not need the many distractions and diversions to be found in a village, rather than through denial and abstinence imposed on you in the monastery!”