A Guru & a Disciple cross a river- a story of detachment
A Guru (monk) and his disciple are walking together on a journey in the Himalayas. They come across river Ganga that is overflowing due to recent rains. At the bank stands a young woman, afraid to cross.
The woman asks for help, and without hesitation, the guru picks her up, carries her across the river, and sets her down safely on the other side.
They continue walking in silence.
Hours later, the disciple, visibly troubled, finally says:
"Master, how could you carry that woman? We monks are not supposed to touch women!"
The guru replies:
"I left her at the riverbank hours ago. Why are you still carrying her?"
This story teaches a powerful lesson in:
-
Detachment: Acting compassionately in the moment is not the same as clinging to thoughts or desires afterward.
-
Presence: Let go of what has passed instead of mentally revisiting or judging it.
-
Non-attachment to rules when compassion is needed: The guru broke the "rule" of not touching a woman, but did so out of compassion, and did not dwell on it.
P.S: Variation of this story has been used by both Yogic traditions as well as Zen Buddhist traditions to make the same point.