The Vow of Silence

Once, four monks secluded themselves in a cell of a mountain temple, having vowed to remain silent for seven days. Only a young servant boy had access to them, bringing everything they needed.

As night fell, the lamp in the cell began to dim. It seemed it was about to go out. One of the monks, the one sitting closest to the flame, became genuinely worried and exclaimed:

"Boy, quickly adjust the wick!"
Hearing this, the monk sitting next to him said:
"Who is speaking now, when we vowed to remain silent?!"
The neighbor of the second monk became very angry at both of them for breaking their vow and spoke:

"What kind of people are you?!"
Then the eldest monk, seated in the place of honor, declared with great importance:
"Only I have managed to remain silent!"

More fairy tales

• Carelessness
• Grandfather Hanasaka
• Whose Treasure Is Better
• The Mountain God and the Okoze Fish
• The Carpenter and the Demon Oniroku