Memory... is the diary that we all carry about with us. ~Oscar Wilde
While I sit in the Edmonton airport with my carry-on luggage, I am reminded again of the story of the two monks. I am on my way (in a few hours) to Mexico for a Power Vinyasa yoga teacher training. We were asked to bring a few quotes or parables that resonate with us. I chose this story as one and shared it in classes last week.
Two Buddhist Monks were on a journey, one was a senior monk, the other a junior monk. During their journey they approached a raging river and on the river bank stood a young lady. She was clearly concerned about how she would get to the other side of the river without drowning.
The junior monk walked straight past her without giving it a thought and he crossed the river. The senior monk picked up the woman and carried her across the river. He placed her down, they parted ways with woman and on they went with the journey.
As the journey went on, the senior monk could see some concern on the junior monk's mind, he asked what was wrong. The junior monk replied, "how could you carry her like that? You know we can't touch women, it's against our way of life". The senior monk answered, "I left the woman at the rivers edge a long way back, why are you still carrying her?"
There are at least two reasons why I appreciate this story. One is the reminder to let go of the past and the things that no longer serve me and the other is that there are sometimes exceptions to rules... And even vows ;)
What do you carry with you that it's time to let go of? For me, it was ideas of myself that may have served a purpose at some point but were ready to be put down.
Core asset... Knowing when to carry something and when to let it go. Like when to go carry-on ;)
