CARRYING A YOUNG PRETTY WOMAN

Pic.: Anima D'Cunha

Years ago, when I had decided to do something about my poor English, one of the things I did – and found very effective – was telling a nice story in two tenses… the Present and the Past. Over the years, I have helped hundreds of people, who were earnest about improving their English, with the same method… Yes, write a nice story down in both the tenses… and, then, tell it to someone!

Every time my mind clings to the past… every time it makes its own interpretations… every time I struggle to ‘drop’ what is not necessary – ‘the excess load’ – yes, that is when this beautiful story come to my aid… and makes me feel light…

CARRYING A YOUNG

PRETTY WOMAN

 PAST:

One day, two monks were crossing a river. The water was knee-deep, and there were many people crossing the river. A pretty young-woman was afraid to cross. When the older monk saw the plight of this frightened woman, he gently said to her, “My child, may I help you?” 

The young lady was relieved on hearing monk’s gentle words and expressed her need to be helped.

The older monk leaned forward, gently lifted the pretty young-woman and gracefully carried her to the other side of the river. On reaching the other side, the monk respectfully placed the woman on the ground. The young woman profusely thanked the helpful monk and went her way. 

After hours, and after traveling miles of distance, the older monk noticed the younger one a lot distressed. “What is the problem, my brother?” he enquired gently, “What is that weighing you down, so much?”

The younger monk did not wait too long to answer. “Sir, we are monks. You know very well that our Shastras prohibit us from ‘touching’ a woman, let alone a young and pretty one,” he said unable to carry his heavy burden. “But sir,” he continued, “you not only ‘touched’ this young and pretty woman… you ‘carried’ her, holding her so close to your heart… all the way through the river! Is it not a sin?”

“My dear brother,” the older monk said to his disturbed junior, “I have ‘dropped’ that woman hours ago and miles behind… But, you seem to be still ‘carrying’ her… holding her so close to your heart!”

PRESENT:

One day, two monks are crossing a river. The water is knee-deep, and there are many people crossing the river. A pretty young-woman is afraid to cross. When the older monk sees the plight of this frightened woman, he gently says to her, “My child, may I help you?” 

The young lady is relieved on hearing monk’s gentle words and expresses her need to be helped.

The older monk leans forward, gently lifts the pretty young-woman and gracefully carries her to the other side of the river. On reaching the other side, the monk respectfully places the woman on the ground. The young woman profusely thanks the helpful monk and goes her way. 

After hours, and after traveling miles of distance, the older monk notices the younger one a lot distressed. “What is the problem, my brother?” he enquires gently, “What is that weighing you down, so much?”

The younger monk does not wait too long to answer. “Sir, we are monks. You know very well that our Shastras prohibit us from ‘touching’ a woman, let alone a young and pretty one,” he says unable to carry his heavy burden. “But sir,” he continues, “you not only ‘touched’ this young and pretty woman… you ‘carried’ her, holding her so close to your heart… all the way through the river! Is it not a sin?”

“My dear brother,” the older monk says to his disturbed junior, “I have ‘dropped’ that woman hours ago and miles behind… But, you seem to be still ‘carrying’ her… holding her so close to your heart!”

GERALD D'CUNHA