How High Is Up?

I have heard: There was a young man who searched for greater and greater hostilities, for he believed that nothing of real value is obtained easily. Finally he located an ancient monastery in the Himalayas whose monks had taken the most severe vows of poverty and hostility. This monastery was on the summit of a great mountain peak, and the monks had to climb and descend by hauling themselves up and down the iron chains that were hammered into the mountain face. No heat was allowed in the monastery, and the monks slept on the cold stone floors. For sustenance the monks descended the chains each day to pry up the frozen ground in search of a few bits of food. The remainder of the time they meditated, chanted, and made offerings. These practices pleased the young man, and he was granted permission to remain with them. The monk’s form of meditation was to contemplate various riddles, and shortly after the young man’s arrival, the Abbot of the monastery posed this question: How High Is Up? Then he instructed the young man to meditate for one month and return with the answer. It was difficult to think about anything sense he was constantly shivering, but the harshness was a challenge to the young man, and after a month had passed he was confident of the answer. Again the Abbot asked: How High Is Up? The young man replied: As High As Man’s Mind May Imagine It To Be. But the Abbot gave him a look of disdain and said meditate for another month, and the young man did. When the month had passed he met with the Abbot, and his answer was: Up Is As High As God Wills It To Be. Again he was rejected, and returned to his meditation. The next month, when asked the same question, He Said Not A Word, But Raised One Cold Stiff Finger And Pointed Up. Again he was sent away. Each month he became more and more convinced that no answer could ever satisfy the Abbot, and the young man’s frustration increased. The next time he saw the Abbot and the question was asked, his voice was filled with suppressed anger: This Is Foolishness! There Is No Answer! And again he was sent away, this time with more mockery than usual, for the Abbot knew the young man was close to the truth. As he departed from the presence of the Abbot the young man vowed to make a last attempt to discover the answer. He stopped eating even the few bits of food, and maintained a vigil atop the roof that raised over the mountains. When the long month finally ended, the other monks removed him from the roof, and tried to thaw him out so that he could speak with the Abbot. Then the question was asked again: How High Is Up? The young man looked blank for a second, then suddenly he screamed, and jumped violently up and down several times, and before anyone could stop him, he leaped across the room and kicked the monk so hard that he was thrown to the floor.The monks rushed the aid of the Abbot and lifted him up. As soon as he recovered he smiled and said to the young man: You Have Got IT! Then the young man quickly gathered his few possessions and departed from the monastery. By the time he had returned home he was filled with happiness, for he had found truth, and achieved enlightenment. Or perhaps the reason he felt so good, was just because he was warm.