Let it go
Long ago, two monks were on their way to their monastery. It was a long and arduous journey. Along the way they reached a river that they had to cross. There was a young lady standing on the side of the river. The monks had learned not to look at women in order to remain restrained at all times and not fall prey to sensual pleasure. However, the woman addressed the monks. One monk did what he had learned and did not look at the woman. However the other monk did look at the woman and asked what he could do for her. “I need to cross this river, but the current is too strong and I can’t do it. Could you possibly help me?” The monk who looked away was amazed to see the other monk talking to the woman, but even more amazed at what the other monk did next. This one in fact lifted up the woman and brought her across the street. The woman thanked him and the monks continued on their way to the monastery.
They spoke no more about the incident, and the monk who looked away could not believe what had happened. After everything they had learned, the monk so quickly gave in to the woman’s request. He tried to understand but could not.
After a long time they arrived at the monastery and the looking away monk still wanted to say something about it. “How could you have done that? You know how we should treat women and you not only looked away, but even carried her.” The other monk smiled and said: “Dear monk, you are right that I carried her. However, I let her go afterwards and continued our way, while you, on the other hand, have still not let her go.”