zen moment

two zen monks were on the way their ashram and were nearing a river which they had to cross in order to reach the ashram.

as they reached the banks of the river, to their surprise, they found a beautiful girl sitting on the banks asking for help as she was not able to cross the river on her own.

the elder monk closed his eyes(trying hard to ignore her) and crossed the river without noticing her as he was not supposed to do so. but to his surprise he discovered that the younger monk is carrying her on his shoulders.

the younger monk dropped the girl on the opposite bank and said good bye.

the elder monk, though angry, didnt say anything. they walked for three miles and reached their ashram.

the elder monk said,"this is intolerable. we are not supposed to even touch a woman, to even see a woman, and you were carrying her on your shoulders!"

the younger monk said,"i dropped her on the banks of the river, you still carry her."