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Naked Monk
The monk's life isn't for everyone.Three men seek the seclusion of the forest to reach enlightenment.But a sly god is determined to make them fail.When the forest fills with naked goddesses, the heroic struggle between lustful desires and ultimate awakening begins. Inspired by Mara's attempt to seduce the Buddha moments before his enlightenment, Hugo Bernard masterfully weaves a mythical adventure about three regular men who are trying to find redemption from past mistakes. But it soon becomes apparent that each man is at a different stage along their spiritual journey. Not everyone is cut out to be a monk.A wise, fun and entertaining story.". . . for the hero to he must escape the girl. That the reader actually hopes he succeeds is proof of the quality of the narrative. "-Raymond St. Elmo, author of The Origin of Birds in the Fooprints of Writing ✶✶✶✶✶"Told with the typical twists and turns of any good Buddhist tale, Naked Monk also serves up many wayside delicacies of wisdom to savor during this most peculiar journey we call life. " - Readers' Favorite ✶✶✶✶✶
200 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 18, 2017
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20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 22, 2020
We moderns are used to flavors separated from their origins. Often we are ignorant of the thing the 'flavor' imitates. How many children have never bitten a real strawberry, or chewed a mint leaf? How close does chocolate syrup taste to a cocoa bean?
Much of modern fantasy is 'flavored' with a two-dimensional cartoon Catholicism where copy-and-paste lines of monks chant in gothic stone churches, while scowling inquisitors sniff out witches and heretics. Readers wearying of this often ask for a non-western oriented story. Alas; it is as easy to create an artificial flavoring of eastern samurai or lamasery, as western knight and monastery.
'The Naked Monk' is a Buddhist story. It is not 'eastern' flavored, nor 'Buddhist' spiced. It is the real thing. A full novel in western style; plotted with chapters expressing multiple POV, flashbacks and dramatic confrontations. Even has a dark lord threatening world-destruction, while plucky folk unite to stop him. But that is ‘western’ flavoring upon what is, at heart, a Buddhist teaching story.
Which would be disaster if the writer were only concerned with making his pious point. Fortunately, as in the best religious fantasies the story itself is captivating. The reader takes Buddhism for world-view or magic system, sits at peace and enjoys the fun without worry that A MESSAGE shall be delivered at the darkest moment.
Our plot: three monks go into the woods to meditate. Rescuing a dark god imprisoned for his selfishness, who hilariously rewards them with the virtue they most covet. Alas, these virtues come as... comely, monk-corrupting girls. There’s a plot that would fire a tv sitcom for three seasons.
There is a great deal of such humor in “The Naked Monk”. Just the title is a joke; a confident laugh from Hugo Bernard to the reader, saying “sit, traveler, and I shall tell you of the three monks and the virtues they desired, and what came thereof.” But past the humor remains the sincere goals of the three monks. Three very different souls, who strive to find their paths.
Were this a western tale ‘Eastern’ flavored, the goal would be for the guy to get the girl, finding reconciliation of faith and world. But no; here the goal remains as firmly fixed as the Celestial City of Pilgrims Progress. For the hero to succeed: he must escape the girl. That the reader actually hopes he succeeds is proof of the quality of the narrative.
Five Stars.
Much of modern fantasy is 'flavored' with a two-dimensional cartoon Catholicism where copy-and-paste lines of monks chant in gothic stone churches, while scowling inquisitors sniff out witches and heretics. Readers wearying of this often ask for a non-western oriented story. Alas; it is as easy to create an artificial flavoring of eastern samurai or lamasery, as western knight and monastery.
'The Naked Monk' is a Buddhist story. It is not 'eastern' flavored, nor 'Buddhist' spiced. It is the real thing. A full novel in western style; plotted with chapters expressing multiple POV, flashbacks and dramatic confrontations. Even has a dark lord threatening world-destruction, while plucky folk unite to stop him. But that is ‘western’ flavoring upon what is, at heart, a Buddhist teaching story.
Which would be disaster if the writer were only concerned with making his pious point. Fortunately, as in the best religious fantasies the story itself is captivating. The reader takes Buddhism for world-view or magic system, sits at peace and enjoys the fun without worry that A MESSAGE shall be delivered at the darkest moment.
Our plot: three monks go into the woods to meditate. Rescuing a dark god imprisoned for his selfishness, who hilariously rewards them with the virtue they most covet. Alas, these virtues come as... comely, monk-corrupting girls. There’s a plot that would fire a tv sitcom for three seasons.
There is a great deal of such humor in “The Naked Monk”. Just the title is a joke; a confident laugh from Hugo Bernard to the reader, saying “sit, traveler, and I shall tell you of the three monks and the virtues they desired, and what came thereof.” But past the humor remains the sincere goals of the three monks. Three very different souls, who strive to find their paths.
Were this a western tale ‘Eastern’ flavored, the goal would be for the guy to get the girl, finding reconciliation of faith and world. But no; here the goal remains as firmly fixed as the Celestial City of Pilgrims Progress. For the hero to succeed: he must escape the girl. That the reader actually hopes he succeeds is proof of the quality of the narrative.
Five Stars.
March 10, 2018
I really enjoyed this mysterious novel. The book revolves around three monks in various stages of a spiritual journey and is an enjoyable view along the path a la “Sid” by Anita Feng or “Siddhartha” by Hermann Hesse. Interspersed with some Dhammapada, this is some good Buddhist fiction!
September 7, 2021
Loose ends find a home
Each person and god come from different backgrounds and perspectives. Yet they all have one common thread: seeking happiness through helping others.
Each person and god come from different backgrounds and perspectives. Yet they all have one common thread: seeking happiness through helping others.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews