The Praying Mantis

There was once an order of monks whose philosophy for obtaining enlightenment included a vow to never touch an unclean thing. Unclean things included all insects, and to deliberately touch one was a serious offense and could lead to expulsion from the order.

One day two monks from the order were walking along a path in a rain soaked forest. Though the sun was out now, it had rained for many days causing overflowing brooks and rivers. Now it came to be that the two monks had to cross a small brook that was overflowing it's little banks and was wider than a house, though not too deep.

As they pulled up their robes they entered the shallow waters to wade to the other side. But when the first monk was half way across he noticed a Praying Mantis...or Walking Stick as the monks were fond of calling them. The Walking Stick was trapped on a rock in the middle of the running brook unable to get to the safety of either side. So the first monk took compassion on the little creature and allowed it to crawl on his hand and ride there to the other side where he promptly put him down on the bank.

Now after this, the second monk remained silent for the rest of the journey, and for several days thereafter. The first monk puzzled quietly over his companions behavior but finally asked him what was wrong? The second monk, at first said "Nothing!" but after the insistence of the first finally burst forth with great pent up emotion and said "Why did you touch that unclean thing? Why did you violate the command of our order? Did you know that it was an unclean thing? Of course you did, so why did to deliberately touch it, bringing shame upon yourself...and me for having witnessed it? I really can't believe you picked up that Walking Stick! I am so ashamed and dishonored by your behavior"

Now the first monk listened patiently to his comrade vent and when the second monk was finished getting it all out he said "My dear friend, I put down that Walking Stick on the other side of the river days ago. But, it seems, it is you who are still carrying the Walking Stick."