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Forgiveness and humility

A story illustrates the difference between physical action and mental attachment.

Two traveling priests were taught to avoid worldly attachments. On their journey back to their master, they encountered a girl needing to cross a wide river. One priest carried her across on his back to help her. They continued their long walk. As they neared their destination, one priest questioned the other about breaking their master's rule against touching a woman. The carrying priest replied that while he had physically carried the girl and then set her down, his brother was still mentally carrying the event with him. The lesson is that the true transgression is not the physical act of help, but the lingering mental judgment and attachment to it.

"You know, I helped that girl, and I carried her on my back, but I dropped her immediately there on the bank of the river."

"But I am surprised that you are still carrying her with you."

Filming location: Sydney, Australia

I recall another story, one more tale. It is about two young priests. These two young priests were traveling around the world. They did not stay in one place; they were like brothers, calling each other brother. They belonged to a monastery and had a master who taught them how to lead life, how to be successful in their spirituality and their duties. Among the many teachings were: do not stay in one place, always travel, and do not form worldly attachments. After traveling for a year or two, they decided to return to their master, who was about 2,000 kilometers away. They had to walk the entire distance. They walked every day, and one day they came to a big river. There was a lot of water and no bridge. Both sat under a tree near the riverbank to have some breakfast—some fruits and bread. At that moment, a young girl approached. She asked them, "Brothers, can you help me cross the river? I cannot swim, and I must go to the village on the other side." Both said very humbly, "Yes, sister, we will help you. Please sit and have some fruit with us." After half an hour, they also needed to cross the river. One of the young priests said to the girl, "You sit on my back, and I will swim across." So he carried her on his back and began to swim. The other priest swam beside them at a distance. They crossed the river and reached the other side. He set her down, and she asked, "What can I do for you? Thank you very much for your help. If there is anything I can do, please tell me." Both replied, "Sister, thank you. It was our great privilege and God's blessing that we could help you. We wish you all the best. We will ask you one thing: it would be advisable for you to learn swimming." Then they went their way, and she went hers. After crossing the remaining 2,000 kilometers, they finally neared their master's abode. With about 20 kilometers left, it was sunset. They came upon some beautiful rocks and decided to stay there overnight and visit the master in the morning. They sat on a large rock under the shining moon on a warm evening. They were discussing their experiences, saying, "What kind of experiences have we had? The master will ask what we have done and learned. How happy we are that we will see the master tomorrow. That will be our greatest day." They talked happily with each other. Then suddenly, one brother said to the other, "Do you remember? Three years ago, the master told us, 'Do not touch any girl.' Brother, you did not touch that girl, but you were carrying her on your back. When the master asks you, 'Did you touch some girl?' what will you answer?" The other brother said, "Yes, you are right. I am surprised." "For what are you surprised?" "You know, I helped that girl, and I carried her on my back, but I dropped her immediately there on the bank of the river. But I am surprised that you are still carrying her with you. What will you answer to the master?"

This text is transcribed and grammar corrected by AI. If in doubt what was actually said in the recording, use the transcript to double click the desired cue. This will position the recording in most cases just before the sentence is uttered.

The text contains hyperlinks in bold to three authoritative books on yoga, written by humans, to clarify the context of the lecture:

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