Beyond Time, Section 3, pp. 102-112 Summary and Analysis

Seeking meaning and understanding, Frederick decides to spend a weekend at a monastery, wanting to ask questions of a certain monk who is famed for his wisdom. When Freddy arrives, he learns that the monk is unavailable, and the other monks have taken a vow of silence. The one monk, who is in charge of talking with visitors, has recently had a stroke and can barely speak. At the end of the weekend, Freddy has learned no profound truths, but as he is leaving, the elderly monk offers to bless him. As part of the blessing, the monk tells him that he has a long way to go. Freddy interprets this as a reference to his journey through life, meaning that he has much to learn.

One evening, after five years of teaching...