(Third excerpt)
Autumn, Third Moon, six hands' day
"Master," I asked today, "where are we going?"
My teacher looked at me with his usual grave expression. He didn't answer.
I thought about this. Maybe he didn't know? But he was a monk. He had mastered the art of living. He knew what he was doing.
I had asked myself this question before. Why did wandering monks wander?
Because my teacher didn't answer, I started to think more deeply.
After a while I got an idea. "Master, is the journey the goal?" I asked timidly. Maybe this was a very stupid idea. I didn't know how it had come to my mind.
I thought I saw a flicker of a smile on my teacher's face. However, he slightly shook his head.
We continued walking, and I continued thinking about the question.
After half an hour I came up with a new idea. "Master," I asked eagerly, "is our journey... to God?"
This had to be the right answer.
But my teacher remained silent. I became confused.
"Are we then not on the way to God?" I asked, finally.
I thought he would again be silent, but after a few moments he spoke.
(end of the excerpt)
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