The Hermit and the Well by Thich Nhat Hanh (2003) is intended to be a simple story with a profound message. It’s written in the first person and describes a day in the life of a child whose age is unknown. This child takes a class trip to the top of a mountain to visit a hermit. When the class reaches the hermit's hut they find it empty. The narrator is so disappointed that he leaves the group and climbs further up the mountain. I couldn’t help but worry that the hermit had been eaten by a tiger. I couldn’t help but wonder if the classroom teachers panicked at noticing the narrator missing and what dangers he might find in the forest alone. Of course, the story was more spiritual than that. The narrator is extremely thirsty and finds a pool of water clear and delicious. He is very happy. He is calm and peaceful. He returns to his group. Now an old man, He councils readers regarding the hermits they meet. “Maybe it was a rock, a tree, a star, or a beautiful sunset. The hermit is the Buddha inside of you.” Illustrations by Vo-Dinh Mai somewhat ethereal.
