The Vow of Silence A man wanted to become a monk so he went to the monastery and talked to the abbot (the head monk). The abbot said, "You must take a vow of silence and can only say two words every three years." The man agreed. After the first three years, the abbot came to him and said, "What are your two words?" - "Food cold!" the man replied. The abbot made sure the meals are not cold. Three more years went by and the abbot came to him and said, "What are your two words?" - "Robe dirty!" the man exclaimed. The abbot ordered his robe be washed. Three more years went by and the abbot came to him and said, "What are your two words?" - "Bed hard!". The abbot made sure the mattress got re-stuffed. Three more years went by and the abbot came to him and said, "What are your two words?" - "I quit!" said the man. "Well," the abbot replied, "I'm not surprised - you've done nothing but complain since you got here!" Link: http://www.ba-bamail.com/content.aspx?emailid=19381

The Vow of Silence

A man wanted to become a monk so he went to the monastery and talked to the abbot (the head monk). The abbot said, "You must take a vow of silence and can only say two words every three years." The man agreed.
After the first three years, the abbot came to him and said, "What are your two words?"

"Food cold!" the man replied. The abbot made sure the meals are not cold.
Three more years went by and the abbot came to him and said, "What are your two words?"

"Robe dirty!" the man exclaimed. The abbot ordered his robe be washed.
Three more years went by and the abbot came to him and said, "What are your two words?"

• "Bed hard!". The abbot made sure the mattress got re-stuffed.
  Three more years went by and the abbot came to him and said, "What are your two words?"

• "I quit!" said the man.

"Well," the abbot replied, "I'm not surprised - you've done nothing but complain since you got here!"

Link: http://www.ba-bamail.com/conten...?emailid=19381

Wait a minute!

Why is the abbot allowed to talk so much? Isn't he supposed to set a good example for the other monks?

Or is it just another case of rank hypocrisy in the higher echelons?