Essay Questions

• What were the views of monk regarding Buddhism?

  The monk does not follow Buddhist principles blindly. Instead, he looks at the multiple perspectives of an idea. After understanding the Buddhist philosophy thoroughly, he contemplates the traditional Buddhist beliefs as misunderstandings and refutes the Buddhist philosophy of love. He realizes that the two views in Buddhist philosophy do not provide different dimensions regarding a matter rather they are opposite or paradoxical opinions.

• What is the Buddhist philosophy of love?

  In Buddhism, love is not considered as something sacred. Instead, it is considered as misleading. The monks and nuns are not allowed to marry and they have to live a life of devotion towards their religion. The monk in the book realizes that he has achieved the religious awakening through his love for a woman. He says that love transforms us and makes us better individuals. It teaches us to care for others and to empathize with them. The monk perceives love as a trick of nature which makes us experience the intensity of emotions and changes our lives.

How does the young man transform spiritually?

The young man devotes his life to religion and takes an oath of living his life as a monk. Although he reads many religious scriptures, but he does not undergo spiritual transformation. It was after falling in love with a monk that he becomes spiritually enlightened. He does not marry the nun and they both remain apart in order to experience the power of love and to set an example for others. The monk understands the sufferings of others after experiencing the power of love.