Once there were two monks who were trying to get back to their monastery after travelling. The weather had been bad and the river had overflowed, making it difficult to cross.
A young woman was sitting beside on the bank. She was afraid to cross.
One of the monks simply carried her across the river to the other side and both monks continued with their journey back to the monastery.
After some while, the other monk started to speak; he was visibly annoyed.
‘You know we have a vow not to have any physical contact with women. Inspite of that, you carried that woman across the river- you should not have done that’.
The monk who had carried the woman replied,
‘I picked up and carried the woman across the river and put her down again on the other side. But you are still carrying her in your mind’.