TWO brahmacaris who were traveling together came to the bank of a river where a bridge had collapsed. There they found a young woman standing sadly, unable to cross. "Please can you help me get across this river?", she pleaded. "I need to get home before the sun sets!"
Since there was no one else to help, one of the brahmacari's, sympathetic from her plight, had an idea. He assured her, "Climb up on my back, and I'll carry you safely over this river. Do not worry."
Following his suggestion, the three of them soon crossed the river, and after a quick "Thank you very much for your help", the young lady and the the two young men parted.
It wasn't long afterward though, when the other brahmacari turned to the one who had carried the girl on his back. "I can't believe you let that woman touch you!" he blurted.
They kept walking, and after passing through a small forest the second brahmacari again exclaimed, "I still can't believe what you did! She was young and pretty. What kind of brahmacari are you?"
And yet again, when they reached the border of their guru's residence, he sputtered "Just wait 'til I tell the guys in the asrama!"
To which the first brahmacari thoughtfully responded, "It is true. I did carry a young lady across a river, but it only took ten minutes. But you, my dear friend, have carried her in your mind for the last ten miles!"
Since there was no one else to help, one of the brahmacari's, sympathetic from her plight, had an idea. He assured her, "Climb up on my back, and I'll carry you safely over this river. Do not worry."
Following his suggestion, the three of them soon crossed the river, and after a quick "Thank you very much for your help", the young lady and the the two young men parted.It wasn't long afterward though, when the other brahmacari turned to the one who had carried the girl on his back. "I can't believe you let that woman touch you!" he blurted.
They kept walking, and after passing through a small forest the second brahmacari again exclaimed, "I still can't believe what you did! She was young and pretty. What kind of brahmacari are you?"
And yet again, when they reached the border of their guru's residence, he sputtered "Just wait 'til I tell the guys in the asrama!"
To which the first brahmacari thoughtfully responded, "It is true. I did carry a young lady across a river, but it only took ten minutes. But you, my dear friend, have carried her in your mind for the last ten miles!"
