Readers Comments
john wrote: The point of the young man's question was not about carrying the woman. It was about touching her. The wiser monk did not answer his question on why he broke his vow of touching a woman.
Had nothing to do with carrying her.
Had nothing to do with carrying her.
Prabakar D wrote: Absolutely beautiful and beautiful story! Life often teaches us many moral lessons through simple stories!
Gail wrote: I love that you used an old folk story from the zen tradition
Outis wrote: Ironic that this story would very well explain japanese ambivalence to their war crimes and their perspective on history which borders on the offensive. This isn't a hot take or clickbait, it happened and they act like it wasn't theirs to begin with. As far they're concerned, their victims are still carrying the proverbial woman on the back.
Shaemus Hughes wrote: Some rules are worth breaking if the rules themselves cause more suffering than breaking them
Denny wrote: The vow to not touch the woman was a vow of celibacy. The older monk was only helping her as person to cross the river because she asked for help, and given that they were monks she felt safe enough to ask them for help. So what good is it to be a monk if not to have compassion on people who must swallow their insecurities and pride and ask for help? The young monk was like society in general they are righteous 'til it happens to them. Even jesus tells the parable of the good samaritan. Every religion or belief have wise people in them.
Beryl jones wrote: Easier said than done. It’s hard to forgive yourself and move on.
Mike P wrote: As the mahabharata states: "do what you must. "
Jìntóu wrote: But what is a vow if not kept. The young monk learned a valuable lesson this day, not in resentment but in commitment.
Mrinal C wrote: I have used this popular story at various occasions of my speech, team building activities - many a times we keep a grudge for life long , which makes our heart heavy, turns our vision milky and thought process blurred - we become judgemental and we continued to carry that cloudy narrative of a subject and then we loose track of it , we lose a precious opportunity to correct the same - a brilliant narrative indeed.