The Novice

This is the renowned Buddhist teacher's timeless parable about the first Buddhist nun. Thich Nhat Hanh's "The Novice" explores the four key aspects of love in the Buddhist tradition: lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and freedom. Born to an aristocratic family in rural Vietnam, Kinh Tam's uncommon be [...]
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This is the renowned Buddhist teacher's timeless parable about the first Buddhist nun. Thich Nhat Hanh's "The Novice" explores the four key aspects of love in the Buddhist tradition: lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and freedom. Born to an aristocratic family in rural Vietnam, Kinh Tam's uncommon beauty and intelligence were obvious from an early age. As a young woman, she was drawn to the teachings of Buddha and the monastic life. But to please her family, she agreed to walk the traditional path of marriage. Despite her noble efforts, Kinh Tam's union couldn't overcome the fear and unhappiness of her new husband's family. She was cast out of her marriage for a mere misunderstanding. Suddenly, Kinh Tam realized that she must follow her heart. Unfortunately Buddhism was still quite young in Vietnam and convents for women did not yet exist. There was simply no path possible for this young girl. Thus Kinh Tam had no choice. Shielding her identity, she joined a monastery as a man and became a virtuous novice for many years. Kinh Tam's identity remained hidden and her life content until one day when everything changed.A local pregnant girl, not knowing Kinh Tam's secret, accuses the novice of impregnating her. Kinh Tam is then faced with a life altering choice: reveal her identity to expose the fraudulent accusation or deny culpability and take the punishment. This is a compelling new form of teaching for Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and with "The Novice", he brings us closer to understanding the beauty of the true compassion that lies within us all.