A man was driving past a beautiful old monastery when his car broke down.
He walked up the long drive and knocked on the door. A Monk answered,
listened to the man's story, then graciously invited him to spend the
night.

The Monks fed the man and led him to a tiny chamber in which to sleep.

He slept serenely until he was awakened by a strange and beautiful
sound.

Next morning, as the Monks were repairing his car, he asked about the
sound that had awakened him.

"We're sorry," the Monks replied. "We cannot tell you about the sound.
You are not a Monk."

Disappointed, the man thanked them for their hospitality and went on
his way.
For years he pondered about the source of the alluring sound.

Finally one day he went by the monastery, explained to the Monks that
he had so enjoyed his previous stay that he wondered if he might be
permitted to spend another night under their peaceful roof. The Monks obliged,
and once again the man was awakened by the strange beautiful sound.
The following morning the man begged the Monks to explain the sound,
and they gave him the same answer as before. "We're sorry. We cannot
tell you about the sound. You are not a Monk."

By now the man's curiosity had turned to obsession. He decided to give
up everything and become a Monk, for that was the only way he could learn
what he wanted to know about the sound. He informed the Monks of his
decision and began the long arduous task of becoming a Monk.

Seventeen years later, the man was finally a true member of the order.
When the celebrating ended, he went humbly to the leader of the order and
asked to be told the source of the sound.
Silently, the old Monk led the new Monk to a huge wooden door. He
opened the door with a golden key. The door swung open to reveal a second
door of silver, then a third door of gold, and so on until they had passed
through twelve doors....each more magnificent than the last. The new Monk's face was
awash with tears of joy as he finally beheld the wondrous source of the
beautiful mysterious sound he had heard so many years before.
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But....I cannot tell you what it was. You are not a Monk