(An ancient story to whom I don’t know to credit)~~
Two monks began a long journey that would take them through mountains, would require them to cross rivers, and would necessitate passing through several villages. After several days, they came to the first river. On the river bank was a young woman crying in despair.
Though they had compassion for the woman, a monk must never be close to nor touch a woman. It is part of a monk's vows.
Through her tears, she pleaded with the monks to help her, for she had started her journey and hadn't anticipated the dangerous swollen river. If she tried to cross on her own, surely she would be swept away. She pleaded with her story. Her husband had recently died and she could no longer bear the ill treatment of his family. She wished to return home to her family and if she couldn't cross the river, her in-laws would catch up and force her to return.
One of the monks refused to break his vow, and so he dropped his head in shame and urged his companion to cross the river with him.
The other monk, picked up the woman, stepped into the river and carried her across. When he set her safely on the other side, she fell to her knees and tearfully thanked him for his sacrifice.
The two monks headed downriver; the woman started on the upward river path.
It was only a minute until the first monk chided the second monk for assisting the woman.
"How could you have carried her across the river? How could you have broken your vows?"
He was silent for only ten minutes before he berated his travel companion again. When they stopped for lunch, he lectured him on his unworthiness.
When they started to walk again, the monk chastised his fellow monk for his disobedience.
As they finished walking for the day and rolled out their bedding, the angered monk attacked his companion again.
The first monk turned to him and said, "When I carried the woman across the river, when we reached the other side, I set her down and have only thought of her when you ridicule me. You, my friend continue to carry her."
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