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Inspirational
Stories
Two Monks
An Old Zen Story
Two monks were walking together down an old road.
Soon they arrived at a river which crossed their path, and there a
beautiful young woman approached them. She greeted the two monks
politely and requested their help in crossing. She told them of her
need to get to the other side of the river, and then went on to
explain that crossing by herself would certainly wet and ruin her
clothes.
At this, the first monk smiled pleasantly, and honored her request. He
carried the young woman across the river on his shoulders and set her
down on the other side. Afterward, the woman thanked him and was quite
grateful for the kind act. And although the second monk
didn't seem too pleased, because traditionally this could be
construed as improper, the two monks bid farewell and continued along
their way.
It was a good way down the road when the second monk turned to the
first, with an angry expression upon his face. He could hold his tongue
no longer. "How could you give in to temptation like that and
carry that girl across the river? And so casually, at that."
To this the first monk replied without hesitation, "My dear
brother, we left that nice young woman back there at the river
crossing. Why are you still carrying her?"
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