What we carry with us

Some of us constantly ruminate over past decisions. But how well can we move forward if we are always looking behind us?

Past choices are important for understanding our behaviors and actions. However, we can’t change them so what use is it to live in those choices or mistakes?

In a conversation with my good friend Dr Ben House he reminded me of this great Zen Buddhist parable:

A senior monk and a junior monk were traveling together. At one point, they came to a river with a strong current. As the monks were preparing to cross the river, they saw a very young and beautiful woman also attempting to cross. The young woman asked if they could help her cross to the other side.

The two monks glanced at one another because they had taken vows not to touch a woman.

Then, without a word, the older monk picked up the woman, carried her across the river, placed her gently on the other side, and carried on his
journey.

The younger monk couldn’t believe what had just happened. After rejoining his companion, he was speechless, and an hour passed without a word between them.

Two more hours passed, then three, finally the younger monk could contain himself any longer, and blurted out “As monks, we are not permitted a woman, how could you then carry that woman on your shoulders?”

The older monk looked at him and replied, “Brother, I set her down on the other side of the river, why are you still carrying her?”

So what do you continue to carry that you could have set down long ago?