Date: Thu, 16 Mar 1995 06:54:17 -0700
Title: Surrounded by MONKS

High in the Himalayas is a monastery in which there
is a small courtyard.  Each stone and pebble and plant
in the courtyard has been placed with extraordinary
concern and reverence.  In the center of the hallowed
yard stand four 37 year old masters of ancient  and
contemporary  martial arts, and they surround one
small rather frail 14 year old girl.  The Elder, seated
to one side of the courtyard, nods and the masters'
foci immediately converge on the girl in the middle.
She stands, alert and ready as the four men suddenly
quickly so fast you or I might not have seen it, attack her.
Just as quickly, in fact so abruptly it appears as if she
moves only one arm, all four men are lying on the precious
surface of the yard and she is standing over them,
slowly folding her arms, looking to the Elder.

"You are a supreme autodidact, young one.  Never
have we seen such skill and power in a novice."

au.to.di.dact \.o.t-o--'di--.dakt\ \-di--'dak-tik\ n
[Gk autodidaktos self-taught, fr. aut- + didaktos
taught, fr.] didaskein to teach - more at DOCILE :
 a self-taught person - au.to.di.dac.tic aj.


Sis genuflects deferentially and with total love and
dedication moves to assist her assailants, still
lying on the sacred surface, unmoving.



----------------------------------************----------------------------
Dick Ellis, Librarian
San Diego Supercomputer Center
(619)534-5171 (voice)
(619)534-5117 (fax)
dellis@sdsc.edu

        "Go Moan for Mankind..."
            J. Kerouac