Wisdom story: A story of two monks a woman and convictions

Once upon a time, two monks set out on a long journey from one monastery to another. They had traveled together for many years, sharing not only the path of their faith but also a deep bond, a friendship enriched by the elder monk’s role as a teacher to the younger. The wise, older monk had guided his companion from the very first day the young man joined their sacred order, helping him learn the traditions and teachings of monastic life even when those teachings were very different from what the young monk had known before. As they walked through lush forests and over rolling hills, the two would often discuss the principles of Buddhism, exploring ideas of compassion, discipline, and the nature of true wisdom. Their conversations were like gentle streams of insight, flowing slowly and deepening the younger monk’s understanding of life. One day, while traveling along a winding country road, they heard desperate screams echoing from the nearby river. Rushing to see what was happening, they discovered a naked woman struggling in the swift currents. Without a moment’s hesitation, the elder monk cast aside his robes and dove into the water. With remarkable skill and compassion, he rescued the woman and carried her to the riverbank, where he used spare robes to cover her modestly and protect her from the cold. Once he was sure that she was safe, the two monks resumed their journey.

However, the incident left an unexpected mark on their relationship. From that day forward, the young monk began to speak to his teacher only after first explaining his feelings or seeking an explanation. The once joyful and free-flowing dialogue between them had turned cautious and constrained. In the young monk’s heart, the rescue had stirred a conflict between his rigid adherence to the rules of their order and the undeniable truth of compassion that he had witnessed. Days later, their journey finally brought them to a grand monastery where they would reside for several months. It was there, amid the stone walls and quiet courtyards, that the tension between them reached its peak. The young monk, burdened by his inner turmoil, began to deliberately ignore his teacher, refusing even to acknowledge his presence. The elder monk, saddened by this sudden change, sought to understand the cause of such hurt. In a moment of sincere concern, the elder monk approached the young man and asked, in a gentle and caring tone, why he had become so distant. He expressed his regret, wondering if he had unknowingly spoken or acted in a way that caused pain, and he earnestly apologized, assuring the young monk that any offense had been unintentional and without malice.

But the young monk’s heart was hardened by his inner conflict. With a tone filled with disappointment and conviction, he declared that his teacher was no longer a true monk because he had broken the sacred rules of their religion. The young monk explained that by rescuing a woman especially one who was naked and by covering her with the robes of a monk, the elder had violated the principles they were meant to live by. The elder monk listened quietly, and then, with calm wisdom, he acknowledged that it was indeed true that he had touched the woman and given her his robes. Yet, he explained, his actions had been driven by the pure instinct of compassion. He had saved her life, made sure she was warm and safe, and then gently left her on the riverbank. In his measured voice, he gently chided the young monk, suggesting that it seemed the young man was still carrying the memory of that incident heavily on his shoulders. He went on to explain that in all his years of following the Buddhist path, the young monk had clung so tightly to strict rules and regulations that he had not learned the art of letting go, of adapting his convictions when a life was at stake. The elder monk warned that if the young monk continued to prioritize rigid adherence to rules over the spirit of compassion, his heart would remain weighed down, and he would find little peace in life. With a warm, understanding smile, the elder monk expressed that he was, in fact, grateful for what had transpired. He believed that this incident had given them both an invaluable lesson to examine together, a lesson about the delicate balance between discipline and compassion. He explained that true wisdom was not simply about following rules without question, but about knowing when to bend those rules in the service of a higher purpose.