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A Conversation Between Two Tibetan Monks
Photo Courtesy of babasteve
I came across this short but excellent conversational piece while reading ‘Happy For No Reason’ by Marci Shimoff. Enjoy …
Two Tibetan Monks meet each other a few years after being released from prison, where they had been tortured by their jailers.
“Have you forgiven them?” asks the first
“I will never forgive them! Never!” replies the second
“Well,” says the first monk, “I guess they still have you in prison, don’t they?”
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You know, someone once asked Nelson Mandela if he felt anger toward the people who kept him in prison for all those years. He answered that he wasn’t because he had spent enough years in prison and now he wanted to be free. I agree that this is a beautiful story.
Marelisas last blog post..Sleep Extravaganza – 40 Tools, Tidbits, & Resources to Help You Conquer Sleep
I’d ask… Is it wise to forgive those who show no remorse and are not sorry for what they did? I’m all for forgiveness… But like anything else – even this can be taken to the extreme, can it not?
To forgive someone who has no guilt, no remorse and no regret for what they committed does not sound enlightened to me. But hey, I’m just one man with one man’s opinion. It’s a worthwhile subject to ponder, and I appreciate you bringing it to light.
Thank you for the very interesting post.
- Bamboo Forest
Bamboo Forests last blog post..Being Happy for Others Makes You Happy
@Marelisa: Thanks for sharing. I didn’t know this about Nelson Mandela.
@Bamboo: I agree, it’s difficult to forgive those who show no guilt, regret or remorse. And doesn’t make sense as well.
However, till we don’t forgive, we keep the pain alive within us. We forgive to get over that pain, let go of past and move on with our lives. We don’t do it for those who give us pain, we do it for ourselves.
Hi Avani,
I’m not so sure. I don’t think they are mutually exclusive. In other words, one need not be bitter, just because they haven’t forgiven. One need not self sabotage themselves on account of them not having forgiven the guilty party! I think such a presumption of this being the case is not true.
I believe one can take the position of not forgiving, and yet still maintain inner peace (wouldn’t that be the ideal if the guilty party shows no remorse?). I don’t think forgiving a party that does not deserve it is a prerequisite to having inner stillness. I do, however, think it may be a betrayal of ones intellect and values to forgive someone who is not deserving of it. Just my thoughts on the matter.
Bamboo Forests last blog post..Being Happy for Others Makes You Happy
I suppose I have been very lucky in my life – I have never had to forgive a terrible wrong. I think it must be very hard, which is why Nelson Mandela’s attitude is so amazing. I never cease to admire him. It’s incredible what our minds are capable of.
Hi Avani,
What a brilliant quote. It doesn’t get any truer that that!
Barbara Swaffords last blog post..NBOTW Author Says “Life Is A Jungle”
Nice this kind of reminds me of this one
“An old monk and a young monk were walking through a forest when they came to a river bank and saw a beautiful young woman standing at the edge of the bank.
The woman told the monks that she was afraid to cross the river because she might slip and be carried downstream. She asked if one of the monks might help her across.
Now it so happened that these 2 monks were members of a sect which practiced celibacy and they had both taken vows never to touch a member of the opposite sex. But the old monk, sensing the extreme anxiety of the young woman, lifted her onto his back and carried her to the other side of the river.
The young woman thanked him and went on her way. The 2 monks continued on their journey, but the young monk was shocked and disturbed at having seen his older companion break his vow so nonchalantly. Finally, after 3 hours of walking and thinking, he could contain himself no longer and he burst out, “Tell me, old man, what did it feel like to break your vow of so many years? What did it feel like to allow sensuality to tempt you from your spiritual path? What did it feel like to have her smooth warm thighs wrapped around your waist, her breasts brushing against your back, her arms around your neck and her soft cheek almost one with your own? Tell me, old man, what is it like to carry such a beautiful young woman?”
The older monk remained silent for several steps and then said, “It is you who should tell me what it is like to carry such a beautiful young woman. You see I put her down 3 hours ago at the river, but you are still carrying her.”
This is one of my favourite stories
It’s a Zen Koan named “The Burden”.
Hi, Here is another great story about Tibeten Monks. The Tibeten Monks were in great danger during the Chinese invasion…..The danger, not for their physical safety, but the danger that they might lose their compassion for the Chinese!!!!