Anam Thubten Rinpoche’s best joke

I heard this last year on retreat and again today he brought it out. I don’t recall the build-up from last time, but today he explained that it was a bit about our tendency, especially that of young men, to become so eager for spirituality (you can probably insert ‘activism’, ‘religion’, ‘nationalism’, etc) that a sort of militancy builds up and we end up missing the whole point of what we’re doing.

So the story goes:

There once was a monastery that had a very simple sadhana (practice). The practice was total silence for ten years, and then a report with the head abbot. But that report could only be two words. 

So one day a very eager young man, impressed by the austerity of this monastery, decided to join. He meets with the abbot, convinces him that he’s ready for the practice, and begins his ten years of silence. 

After ten years pass, he has his first meeting with the abbot, who reminds him that he only has two words with which to report on his progress. What does he say?  

“Bad food.”

The abbot acknowledges him and sends him back into his silence. Ten years go by and the young man gets another chance to report to the abbot. What does he say? 

“Hard bed.”

The abbot again acknowledges him and sends him back into his silence. Another ten years go by and the man goes to report to the abbot. This time he says: 

“I quit.” 

The abbot, always quick on his feet, replies, “I’m not surprised. All you’ve done since you got here is complain about everything!”