A Monks Love

A Zen Koan.

A wise old monk, who had lived a long and active life, was assigned a chaplain’s role at an academy for girls. In discussion groups he often found that the subject of love became a central topic.

This comprised his warning to the young women:

“Understand the danger of anything too much in your lives.”

“Too much anger in combat can lead to recklessness and death.”

“Too much ardor in religious beliefs can lead to close-mindedness and persecution.”

“Too much passion in love creates dream images of the beloved — images that ultimately prove false and generate anger.”

“To love too much is to lick honey from the point of a knife.”

“But as a celibate monk” — asked one young woman —“how can you know of love?”

“Sometime, dear children” — replied the old teacher — “I will tell you why I became a monk.”