The Novice: A Story of True Love

I have been interested in what I call "Zen" reading for a few months now.  Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the authors I always enjoy.  He is very clear, concise, and compassionate in his writing.  This parable follows in that same tradition of simplicity.  A woman disguises herself as a man and becomes a novice monk during a time when women were not allowed to enter into monastic training.  A local girl claims that she has been impregnated by the young monk (obviously not knowing "he" is a "she").  The story of compassion that develops is one that will cause you to take a look at yourself and ask "Can I one day possess the compassion of this novice?"  Perhaps, it is a goal we should all be striving to achieve.