The Mechanical Monk

A mechanical monk wanders the galaxy on a path of spiritual cultivation, atoning for the crimes of his cruel and tyrannical ancestors. During a perilous journey, as he seeks to redeem them, he gradually uncovers shocking truths. He begins to question the true reason for his existence, as well as the secret his religious order is willing to kill to protect...

Gregg Vann is a writer and teacher who speaks several languages. He holds a bachelor's degree in Asian Studies, a master's degree in English Education, and a medical degree, and teaches English as a second language. When he isn't writing, he often strolls along Florida's sunlit beaches.

In this short story, the monk offers plenty of food for thought: understanding perception, and what happens when an "inalienable" right to exist is applied, regardless of how someone was created; examining the subjugation of consciousness created through technology for the purpose of serving others;

deciding when a morally corrupt person should die, since they have no redeeming value and should therefore be forced to remain dead.

Fallon Gent deserved to die, but he used his power and influence to get the mechanical monk to make him reborn. Buddhist monks possess advanced technology that can transfer a soul from a dead person into an entirely new clone body.

The people who possess this technology are Buddhist monks.

When Gent, a psychopathic killer, is finally killed, he is given a chance to be reborn, but he must atone for his crimes.

A clone learns that its purpose is to lead the essence of the deceased individual, mind and soul, toward redemption by finding restitution for the crimes they committed. That is the path to redemption.

A moral dilemma arises when the clone is forced to relive memories of the crimes and bear the guilt, then begins to question whether Gent deserved to be reborn, especially when this requires the clone to die.

Clearly, the Buddhist tenants have undergone an evolution in which a more commercialized, accelerated form of enlightenment can replace the long cycle of reincarnation.

More questions are asked than answered, but the story still feels complete.

I loved every word.

I loved it.