At breakfast the visiting novice monk sat next to one of the senior abbots.
– Why are there so few women in this temple? – asked the novice monk.
– Because very few girls apply for admittance anymore, – replied the abbot.
– Why is that? – asked the novice monk.
– Because it is widely known that most girls do not meet our rigorous standards, – replied the abbot.
– Why is that? – asked the novice monk.
– Because productivity requires harmony, and many female applicants are a poor fit for our culture, – replied the abbot. – Indeed, most have wasted the time we invested in them by leaving soon after arriving.
– Why is that? – asked the novice monk.
– Because they were unhappy here, and did not work well with the monks, – replied the abbot.
– Why is that? – asked the novice monk.
– Because like so many great temples, the culture of this temple is a boy’s culture: rough and rude, cruel and crude, in work and in play, – replied the abbot.
– Why is that? – asked the novice monk.
– Because there are so few women in this temple, – replied the abbot.