a young monk and his master was about to cross the river when they met a lady. she was hurrying home and her house was on the farbank. the sky was getting dark and the nearest bridge was a couple of kilometers downstream. and as she needed to get home before nightfall, the lady asked the monks to help carry her across the river. the young monk didn't want to do so as it is against the rules to get in physical contact with woman. the lady pleaded as she needed to rush home. as there was no other way, the master finally decided to carry her on his back instead. the young monk felt uneasy. after crossing the river, the master let down the lady. she gratefully thanked the master and went along her way.
the master continued walking quietly. the young monk felt troubled by the fact that the master had breached the rule of not to getting into physical contact with a lady. after walking a while more, he couldn't take it anymore and asked the master why he carried the lady. the master turned around and looked at him and said: "what i knew was that i had helped a person who was in distress..." the young monk was not satified with the answer and demanded a clearer answer for it was clear to him that the master had breached his practise. the master then turn around and said: "hmmm, i have already let down the person after i crossed the river and am no longer carrying her, but why are you still carrying her?" he continued walking... mindfully.
a simple true story of a chinese venerable's life in the 1800s. but it certainly has a lot of meanings. many of us are blinded by prejudices and wrong perceptions. and often these views prevented us from doing the good we should be doing. also, in life, many of us carry our burdens of grudges, anger, dissatisfactions, etc over prolonged periods of time. and we continue to attach ourselves to our past. but in actual fact, the past is gone. we should let it go. we should just move along and focus on our journey ahead. there is no reason why we continue be held ransom by our past baggage. holding on to such attachments is empty and it causes unnecessary sufferings.
this is an important story to me. of late, particularly in recent years, i have been counselling my mum frequently. you see, she is a person who has been so imprisoned by her past, it has become a habit. she is so trapped in it that she fail to appreciate and count her present blessings. and i have to keep reminding her not to do so. in recent weeks ever since my sister-in-law's mum came and stay over with her, my mum would cry whenever she sees them so sweet and close. she kept thinking of how she got ill-treated by her own mum, and for that matter, by her mother-in-law, my grandmother. she failed to totally see and appreciate the fact that she has a good daughter-in-law, that she has a good and caring environment that constantly provides for her. sighs... i could not do anything except to constantly counsel her.
the master continued walking quietly. the young monk felt troubled by the fact that the master had breached the rule of not to getting into physical contact with a lady. after walking a while more, he couldn't take it anymore and asked the master why he carried the lady. the master turned around and looked at him and said: "what i knew was that i had helped a person who was in distress..." the young monk was not satified with the answer and demanded a clearer answer for it was clear to him that the master had breached his practise. the master then turn around and said: "hmmm, i have already let down the person after i crossed the river and am no longer carrying her, but why are you still carrying her?" he continued walking... mindfully.
a simple true story of a chinese venerable's life in the 1800s. but it certainly has a lot of meanings. many of us are blinded by prejudices and wrong perceptions. and often these views prevented us from doing the good we should be doing. also, in life, many of us carry our burdens of grudges, anger, dissatisfactions, etc over prolonged periods of time. and we continue to attach ourselves to our past. but in actual fact, the past is gone. we should let it go. we should just move along and focus on our journey ahead. there is no reason why we continue be held ransom by our past baggage. holding on to such attachments is empty and it causes unnecessary sufferings.
this is an important story to me. of late, particularly in recent years, i have been counselling my mum frequently. you see, she is a person who has been so imprisoned by her past, it has become a habit. she is so trapped in it that she fail to appreciate and count her present blessings. and i have to keep reminding her not to do so. in recent weeks ever since my sister-in-law's mum came and stay over with her, my mum would cry whenever she sees them so sweet and close. she kept thinking of how she got ill-treated by her own mum, and for that matter, by her mother-in-law, my grandmother. she failed to totally see and appreciate the fact that she has a good daughter-in-law, that she has a good and caring environment that constantly provides for her. sighs... i could not do anything except to constantly counsel her.
No comments:
Post a Comment