Buddhist theology
This archetypal love story is actually a suitable imagery for the complexities of Buddhist theology. This allows for a very natural transition between the story telling and the theological discourses about various sutras. In particular, the Diamond Sutra and the Heart Sutra are well explored by the philosopher and monk. He explains that life allowed him to endure an archetypal romance to bring his enlightenment to its peak.
A forbidden love
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is archetypal because it is a lot of passion shoved into a few days or intimacy and tragedy. In Nhat Hanh's story, the archetypal value of this dynamic is amplified even more, because he actually had a long time to study his beloved, for them to fall in love, and for them to attain levels of intimacy through friendship that are rarely available to people outside of religious settings of absolute self-sacrifice. But the very oaths that bring them to such a powerful love forbid them to dismiss it. They obey their oaths, exchanging only one embrace.
Point of view
One notices a very subtle assumption made by this monk, but it is insightful to analyze it. The assumption is that life occurs to each of us for the purpose of bringing us toward specific moments in time when understanding is bestowed on our consciousness. This is available because of the imagery of Nhat Hanh's writing. He incorporates his own experiences into his beliefs about truth. He also explains theologically what one's point of view really is in mystical analyses of the Upanishads and related Sutras.
Integrity and sacrifice
The imagery that is demonstrated by the characters is one of self-control and integrity. Only with ultimate integrity and sacrifice could two passionately enflamed lovers deny their bodies their most pure animal desire. They accept their fate. They will never marry. They will never have kids. They will never make a family. It was easy to swear those things away when they were not immediately available, but now their oaths are tested. The imagery of integrity is demonstrated when they abide by their commitments and beliefs, trying to believe somehow that they are not making a mistake. Ultimately, they receive a reward in full-blown religious ecstasy, a portrait of life's principle of sacrifice.
