The year is 1987.
A man is driving down the highway, returning home from an out-of-state conference when his car breaks down suddenly.
It's fairly late at night, and he's practically in the middle of nowhere, in limbo between his two destinations, as it were.
He pushes the car over to the side of the road quickly, to avoid any untoward occurrences.
He tries to flag down a passing car or two, but quickly realises no one is going to stop for him this late. They probably think he's a murderer or highwayman.
He decides to walk to find help, someone nearby, perhaps a gas station or a rest stop with a phone.
He walks, walks, walks ... The first building he finds is infact a gas station, but their phone's been out of order for a few days now, the clerk reports to him apologetically.
He finds a couple of restaurants, too, but they are closed.
Finally, almost two kilometers from where he started, he comes upon a large structure, bearing the marks of age, but ornate and imposing-looking.
He knocks on the door.
He is greeted by a monk. It's a monastery.
He explains the situation, and the monks are extremely gracious about it.
They give him a place to stay for the night, great food, even find his car where he left it and fix it up for him.
They show him to his chambers and give him some comfortable robes for him to sleep in.
At night, just as he's falling asleep, he hears a loud gong, emanating from the floor.
The sound is like nothing he's ever heard, it makes him feel wide awake yet contented and completely relaxed at the same time.
He is intrigued, but decides there's not anything to do immediately as all the monks have retired to their dormitory for the night.
He makes up his mind to ask them in the morning.
The next morning, he asks the monks' elder what the source of the sound was yesterday.
The elder responds, Sir, we've loved having you here as we don't get many visitors from the outside world, so don't take this the wrong way... but that sound is a closely kept secret of the brotherhood, and so, unfortunately, we cannot tell you because you are not one of us.
The man says that he understands, but he's still very curious about it.
He gives it up as one of life's weird mysteries, though, eats breakfast, and leaves the monks after thanking them thoroughly for their hospitality. He gets into his car and begins the drive home.
He has an uneventful return, and quickly becomes absorbed back into his usual routine.
He forgets all about the place for a couple of years, and the mysterious sound.
The year is now 1990.
The conference he went to is held at the same venue in 1990 that it was in '87. He goes there. On the way back, he recognizes the monastery, and decides to drop in for a quick visit.
The monks all recognize him, the elder welcomes him back, and they insist he stay the night and regale them with tales of life in the outside world.
They all have a wonderful dinner before retiring for the night.
Again, just as he's falling asleep, he hears the gong again. This time, he resolves to find out the source of the sound.
The next morning, he asks, nay, demands the elder tell him what's going on.
The elder smiles apologetically, and tells him the same thing he was told the last time he asked the question. We're sorry, but we can't tell you because you're not a monk.
Now, the man is getting pretty close to retirement at this point, and he's really enjoyed the little time he's spent at the monastery. He doesn't have a family or other commitments, and so he decides he may as well join the monastery.
So he asks, How do I become a monk then? I've loved the time I've spent here.
The elder responds:
We value attunement with nature and respect for life above all else.
About 10 kilometers inland from here you will find a grove of sacred trees.
You must spend 3 years in the grove, living off the land, gaining an appreciation for life.
To prove that you spent the time, you must bring back the count of the leaves on the trees in the grove.
The man requests time till the end of the day to mull over the decision.
He decides to do it. The way the sound made him feel had driven him crazy. He needed to know.
He goes to the grove, and sets up camp there.
He divides up the grove into zones.
He starts his count.
He counts slowly, methodically.
Area by area.
Tree by tree.
Leaf by leaf.
After three long years, he's finally done.
He goes back to the monks and presents his count.
They are pleased, and induct him into the brotherhood on the spot.
Barely able to contain his excitement, he asks the elder, Now will you please tell me what the sound is?
The elder monk says, very well.
He's led down to the monastery basement.
He's taken down a maze of corridors, twisting and turning, impossible to keep the path in mind.
Finally, he arrives at a corridor about fifty feet long.
Its walls are plastered with gold leaf, carved with flowers and gods, studded with gems.
A giant set of double doors looms at the end of the corridor.
It seems to be identical to the doors to the entrance of the monastery, except these are covered in gold.
The man walks slowly through the corridor.
A white light glows from behind the edges of the doors.
He takes a deep breath as he nears them.
He puts both his hands on the doors.
Three years of his life given up for this moment. It gives him pause.
Finally, he pushes open the doors.
He's blinded for a second by the white light emanating from whatever's behind the doors.
as his eyes adjust, he's finally able to see what he's wanted to know for five long years.
He gasps in shock and awe at the sight before him.
...But I can't tell you what he saw, because you're not a monk.