Two Buddhist monks were traveling together along the road in silence. One was more mature, with many years experience of the concepts he was teaching the younger. While the other was a fresh initiate, with lots of book knowledge but little in the practical sense.
Soon, as they traveled along their path, they chanced upon a young woman totally nude who was trapped on one side of a stream. Her clothes were on the other side, placed there by some young “friends” as a foolish prank. The stream was only a few feet deep, but she was terrified to even try to make her way across.
Without a word the elder monk scooped her up in his arms and carried her across the stream to safety and her clothing. She thanked him in total gratitude with an embrace and a chaste kiss, recognizing and honoring the monks status.
The two monks set back upon their path. As they traveled on, the younger monk’s consternation and agitation seemed to grow with each step. Finally, he could take it no longer and confronted the elder monk in an angry voice, “How could you do such a thing? You violated all the vows of chastity and modesty that we took. You picked up a naked woman in your arms. Again, how could you do such a thing?!”
The other monk just smiled patiently and said, “I left the young woman a mile back. You seem to be still carrying her with you…”