Living in The Present - A Lesson in Letting Go
By Alan Roy Hocking | Submitted On July 28, 2012
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Expert Author Alan Roy Hocking
There is an ancient story I really like about two Buddhist monks who are walking along a river in silence. They have taken a vow of chastity and can never speak to, or even touch a woman.
As they walk along the river, they see a woman who is desperately trying to get across the river to her child who is on the other side. …show more content…
One monk walks over to her and says, "May I help you?" He then picks her up and with the strength that he carries in his legs that walk mountains and valleys and streams as part of his daily work, he carries her across the river, sets her down by her child, then returns to join the other monk and they continue to walk up the river in silence again.
About two hours later the second monk eventually says to the first monk, "I can't believe you spoke to that woman and carried her across the river." "I can't believe you touched her." "I can't believe that you broke your vows."
The first monk simply looks at his companion and says, "I put her down two hours ago. You are still carrying her."
There is such a great lesson in this story about learning how we so often carry our problems around with us long after we should have just let them go or "put them down."
We are all guilty of living in the past and focusing on what happened yesterday instead of living in the present and enjoying the moment.
Today try to think of what you are still carrying around that really isn't happening
By Alan Roy Hocking | Submitted On July 28, 2012
Recommend Article Article Comments Print Article Share this article on Facebook Share this article on Twitter Share this article on Google+ Share this article on Linkedin Share this article on StumbleUpon Share this article on Delicious Share this article on Digg Share this article on Reddit Share this article on Pinterest
Expert Author Alan Roy Hocking
There is an ancient story I really like about two Buddhist monks who are walking along a river in silence. They have taken a vow of chastity and can never speak to, or even touch a woman.
As they walk along the river, they see a woman who is desperately trying to get across the river to her child who is on the other side. …show more content…
One monk walks over to her and says, "May I help you?" He then picks her up and with the strength that he carries in his legs that walk mountains and valleys and streams as part of his daily work, he carries her across the river, sets her down by her child, then returns to join the other monk and they continue to walk up the river in silence again.
About two hours later the second monk eventually says to the first monk, "I can't believe you spoke to that woman and carried her across the river." "I can't believe you touched her." "I can't believe that you broke your vows."
The first monk simply looks at his companion and says, "I put her down two hours ago. You are still carrying her."
There is such a great lesson in this story about learning how we so often carry our problems around with us long after we should have just let them go or "put them down."
We are all guilty of living in the past and focusing on what happened yesterday instead of living in the present and enjoying the moment.
Today try to think of what you are still carrying around that really isn't happening