Hi all

Mentioned this story to a well known member who said he had forgotten it, so I decided to post it. I'll comment in the next post. 

A senior and novice monk were traveling through the countryside when they came upon a river. The river was swollen making it very difficult to pass. Standing at the edge of the river was a lovely, young woman in elegant clothes unsure of how to get across. She asked the monks for help.

The monks had taken a vow of celibacy that prevented them from making eye contact with women, much less touching them. But after barely a pause, the senior monk picked up the woman and carried her across.

The novice monk was shocked and speechless. His elder had broken his vows! As the monks continued their journey hours passed and no one spoke until the younger monk could no longer contain himself.

“How could you carry that woman across the river when we aren’t even supposed to look at women?” he blurted out in frustration.

The senior monk replied, “I set that woman down hours ago. Why are you still carrying her?”

bego wrote on 13 Apr 2022 14:35:

This story has always resonated with me (let's not get into the Halachic element and it's probably been discussed here before). It's just so true. I think about sex all the time. Hence, I see sex where others see other things. I see sex when others see women. I see sex when other's see a another man's wife.

Example: Today, I saw one of my wife's family member's underwear when she bent over. I'm still thinking about it. Why? Because I want to. The above story is all about focus and what we want. there is more to be said but that's enough for now. 

Good points. Similarly, we can see something that others do and imagine a whole story as if it was to entice us, as if they are interested in us etc. but it is all fake, and just taking up space in our mind.

Just realised this also applies to a fall. I thought of her, I fell. I carry her in my mind, I keep falling. 

Lots more to be said. 

The old monk versus the novice. 

A familiar feature of GYE 

Though old and young may not be age.

Maybe an aspect of al tashlichayni l'eis zikno....