Let me tell you a story.. Are you sitting comfortably?

Once there was a monk who lived his whole adult life in a hole in the ground. He had taken a vow of silence and never spoke. A friend brought him food and water to keep him alive. All day he meditated, thinking about what heaven would be like. He also prayed for anyone who requested to be prayed for.

Eventually, he passed away. An angel came down to take his spirit away, so he asked the angel "Can you show me heaven now?" So the angel shows him great oceans, huge mountain ranges, beautiful rolling hills, vast plains and forests. The monk turns round and says "Wow, that's amazing, is that heaven?"

The angle says "No, that was earth."

Why the hell do people lock themselves in caves in solitary confinement when they should be out enjoying the life that God gave them?!

Well you could say no matter what we do we all end up in the same place. BTW, your story sucked, a true monk wouldn't ask such a stupid question.

I enjoyed the story. I thought it had a good point to be had.

quote:Originally posted by Mouse:

Why the hell do people lock themselves in caves in solitary confinement when they should be out enjoying the life that God gave them?!

Not all monks take vows of solitude and silence. So your story ends up making a stupid generalization to begin with. You fail. Go to hell.

quote:Originally posted by karma_sleeper:

Not all monks take vows of solitude and silence. So your story ends up making a stupid generalization to begin with. You fail. Go to hell.

But I was only talking about the solitary monks who take vows of solitude and silence. Didn't mention the others...

Not all monks who take vows of solitude and silence lock themselves in cages or stay in holes for their entire life, and those who do are generally simple people.

Find one credible document regarding this, and then maybe people can discuss it.

quote:Originally posted by Mouse:

But I was only talking about the solitary monks who take vows of solitude and silence. Didn't mention the others...



Fair enough, but I still think vows of solitude can form part of a legitimate and worthwhile search for God. Some people who choose the monastic life just go about it in different ways.

quote:Originally posted by King_Cotton:

Find one credible document regarding this, and then maybe people can discuss it.



I may be wrong, but... I think it was meant to be a parable.

quote:Originally posted by King_Cotton:

Find one credible document regarding this, and then maybe people can discuss it.

If only we could cite angels...

Thread failed?

yep

quote:Originally posted by Mouse:

Let me tell you a story.. Are you sitting comfortably?

Once there was a monk who lived his whole adult life in a hole in the ground. He had taken a vow of silence and never spoke. A friend brought him food and water to keep him alive. All day he meditated, thinking about what heaven would be like. He also prayed for anyone who requested to be prayed for.

Eventually, he passed away. An angel came down to take his spirit away, so he asked the angel "Can you show me heaven now?" So the angel shows him great oceans, huge mountain ranges, beautiful rolling hills, vast plains and forests. The monk turns round and says "Wow, that's amazing, is that heaven?"

The angle says "No, that was earth."

Why the hell do people lock themselves in caves in solitary confinement when they should be out enjoying the life that God gave them?!

What a deceitful angel. He didn't show him heaven at all, even though that was what was asked!

quote:Originally posted by Mouse:

Let me tell you a story.. Are you sitting comfortably?

Once there was a monk who lived his whole adult life in a hole in the ground. He had taken a vow of silence and never spoke. A friend brought him food and water to keep him alive. All day he meditated, thinking about what heaven would be like. He also prayed for anyone who requested to be prayed for.

Eventually, he passed away. An angel came down to take his spirit away, so he asked the angel "Can you show me heaven now?" So the angel shows him great oceans, huge mountain ranges, beautiful rolling hills, vast plains and forests. The monk turns round and says "Wow, that's amazing, is that heaven?"

The angle says "No, that was earth."

Why the hell do people lock themselves in caves in solitary confinement when they should be out enjoying the life that God gave them?!

before you truly give up the world, you must experience it

maybe the monk had seen enough of humanity as he entered into his adult years

His problem was not being pleased with life...selfishly taking up a religion just to reap the apparent rewards.

If he did this out of the good of helping others, then he would have found his reward in his actions.

Or he may have been gutted and tourtured by a goverment who disagreed with his actions, the world isn't always nice or beautiful.

Still, i would rate the entire world higher than a hole in the ground.

quote:Originally posted by Niceguy:

Or he may have been gutted and tourtured by a goverment who disagreed with his actions, the world isn't always nice or beautiful.

Still, i would rate the entire world higher than a hole in the ground.



lol, i meant he would feel good about what he's doing, not that his actions would bring about any of his personal happiness from the counteractions of those he would interact with.

like, suffering (anything from being gutted, as you said, to being name-called) is just lessons to teach you about...life.

But i also understand why monks would lock themselfs in stone huts for several years, not ever seeing the light. For the introspection, the enlightenment that would be brought about. They just want to know, and I dont see anything wrong with that.

However, its not how i would like to spend my life.

And, im not sure why i quoted you Nicguy, and then proceeded to ramble on about other things.....sorry http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif)

quote:Originally posted by Obbe:

His problem was not being pleased with life...selfishly taking up a religion just to reap the apparent rewards.

If he did this out of the good of helping others, then he would have found his reward in his actions.

yea he did it for the wrong reasons