Zen Buddhist Story
 

Two monks, going to a neighbouring monastery, walked side by side in silence. They arrived at a river they had to cross. That season, waters were higher than usual. On the bank, a young woman was hesitating and asked the younger of the two monks for help. He exclaimed, 'Don't you see that I am a monk, that I took a vow of chastity?'

'I require nothing from you that could impede your vow, but simply to help me to cross the river,' replied the young woman with a little smile.

'I...not...I can...do nothing for you,' said the embarrassed young monk.

'It doesn't matter,' said the elderly monk. 'Climb on my back and we will cross together.'

Having reached the other bank, the old monk put down the young woman who, in return, thanked him with a broad smile. She left her side and both monks continued their route in silence. Close to the monastery, the young monk could not stand it anymore and said, 'You shouldn't have carried that person on your back. It's against our rules.'

'This young woman needed help and I put her down on the other bank. You didn't carry her at all, but she is still on your back,' replied the older monk.

A mouse was in constant distress
because of its fear of the cat.
A magician took pity on it and turned it into a cat.
But then it became afraid of the dog.
So the magician turned it into a dog.
Then it began to fear the panther.
So the magician turned it into a panther.
Whereupon it was full of fear for the hunter.
At this point the magician gave up, and turned it into a mouse again
saying,
''Nothing I do for you is going to be of any help because you have the heart of a mouse.''