How can spirituality make your life more harmonious? That is the subject of this novel.

A shy girl and a perfect monk are in search for the ultimate spiritual truth, and how to live it. First they find themselves - and each other. Then they discover that this is connected to the truth that they are looking for.

The setting of the story is long ago.

At the end of a day, a wandering monk enters a small village, hoping to get a little to eat and a place to sleep.

He is not prepared for the hostility of the villagers. He only survives because a girl comes to his rescue

This girl is Gem. Gem has been waiting for a spiritual teacher for years. She is sure that everything in life has a deeper meaning, but she doesn't know how to find it.

When she comes in contact with the monk, she wants to join him on his wanderings. She is certain that he has all the answers.

But does he?

EXCERPT:

"I give you thanks," I said, looking in vain for better words in the primitive language that we were both haltingly using.

She had brought me to her house, a small, neat clay hut near the river. It was almost empty; there was only a water jug in a corner and a folded straw mat against the wall and a few dried herbs hanging from the ceiling that gave off a pleasant smell.

In the wall opposite the entrance there was a little fireplace with a chimney that allowed the smoke to leave the hut.

She had made a small fire and from a niche in the wall she had given me bread, and small orange tomatoes that were very sweet.

I was getting a more precise impression of her. She was eager to do something for me, but I felt that at the same time she kept a distance. And when I thanked her, my words didn't seem to register.

I drank the tea she made for me after the meal and felt her radiant eyes upon me. She was so happy that I accepted her service. Her face was beaming. She had an inner beauty that I hadn't seen in anyone before.

She was a part of Maya, I reminded myself brusquely. Only God deserved my attention.

When she said that I could use her house for the night, I hesitated. This was always a difficult moment. As a monk I could not sleep in the same house as a woman.

I had already explained to the girl that I was a monk and I got the impression that she had understood the concept. Maybe she would not be offended if I said I wanted to sleep somewhere else.

"Oh, but I will sleep outside," she said immediately when I started to talk, as if she had been planning that all along.

I objected that the nights were getting cold, in this time of the year, but she wouldn't listen. She neatly arranged the mat for me on the floor and a jug of water beside it, added some wood to the fire and then left the hut.

Unexpectedly, after a minute or two, she returned. She turned to me, her eyes downcast, and after a considerable hesitation she took a small flower from a pocket in her dress. She held it out to me, still without looking at me.

"My house, your house," she said in a ritual, singsong way.

I felt paralyzed for a moment. I didn't know what to answer.

Then, automatically, I accepted the flower.

She still didn't look up at me, but when she quickly left the hut, her face beamed as if she was overflowing with light.

****


Gem changes from a shy young girl into a wise, loving woman with deep spiritual experiences. Meditation frees her from her negative thoughts about herself.

Inside the grave monk is someone less than perfect, struggling to get out. Will he come to terms with his all too human sides?

Gem's Story shows how spirituality can change lives in a beautiful way.