The Novice Read Online Free PDF

from the realm of samsara,
    let us invoke the Buddha’s name with one-pointed concentration.
    The recitation was so solemn and powerful that it caused even the guard to stop his hand and look at the Zen teacher. The entire gathering froze in place.
    After finishing the recitation, the abbot calmly spoke. “Respected chairman, respected members of the village council, in this turmoil the parties involved may have some dilemma that cannot be publicly shared at this time. I implore the chairman and members of the village council to open your compassionate hearts and show mercy by allowing me to take novice Kinh Tam back to the temple for further counsel and guidance. I truly believe that novice Kinh Tam does have the deep intention to live the monastic life. Over the entire past two years, never have I witnessed the novice transgressing any monastic precepts or fine manners, however minute. I ask to serve as surety for the novice, to bring him back to the temple, and, I hope, with more time to be able to find the truth of the matter. As a monk of long standing who has dwelled at Dharma Cloud Temple for over forty years, I beseech the village council to accept this request.”
    The powerful words of the abbot moved the majority of the village council to nod their heads in agreement. The chairman moved to adjourn. The council decided to postpone the dispute for an unspecified period, and neither Kinh Tam nor Thi Mau had to pay any penalty during this time.
    The abbot told the two elder novices to help Kinh Tam back to the temple.
    Upon return to the temple, Kinh Tam asked the elder novices to bring a large tub of hot water into the room and take their leave for the night. The two elder novices acceded to Kinh Tam’s request, even though they both felt deep compassion and wanted to help treat the wounds of their dear junior monk, for whom they had much respect.
    Later that evening, while lying on the bed recovering, Kinh Tam heard knocking at the door. Asking who it was, the novice heard the voice of elder brother Thanh Tam. Thanh Tam had gone down to the village and gotten some herbal medicine that speeds up the healing of wounds. Kinh Tam asked the elder brother to leave the prepared bowl of medicine in front of the door. And, since Kinh Tam was in no condition to climb up to the bell tower to do the evening chanting, the novice asked Thanh Tam to take over the task for that evening and the following days.

W aking up the next morning, despite the inescapable physical pain, Kinh Tam felt an extremely pleasant emotion that the novice had never previously experienced. Kinh Tam felt a whole new elation.
    The previous day, the novice had been deeply torn between two choices, either to reveal the truth that would prove beyond any question Kinh Tam’s innocence and put an end to all suspicion and interrogation, or to go on keeping the secret in order to be able to continue the life of a monastic. The novice simply did not have the strength to withstand the force of more blows. Kinh Tam had felt excruciating pain piercing to the bone each time the large raffia pole came thundering down. The novice tried hard to endure the pain and not scream or plead for mercy.
    Kinh Tam knew that revealing the truth would stop the physical abuse and correct the injustice, but also that the truth would bring an immediate end to the novice’s monastic life in the temple. The happiness of living that life was so enormous that Kinh Tam just could not part with it. Better to endure extreme pain and public scorn in order to retain the delight of living as a monastic.
    â€œThey falsely accused me; they reviled me and misunderstood me. They interrogated me and then violently punished me. But staying true to my ideal and my true happiness, I was able to endure with openness and magnanimity such flagrant injustice.” Lying in bed, the novice felt something like a kind of bliss. Kinh Tam realized that this lighthearted feeling of