Two monks, one old and one young, were traveling together.

One day, they arrived beside a river, where there was a young and beautiful woman having difficulty trying to cross the river.

The woman asked the monks to help her cross the river.

The two monks looked at each other.

They had promised not to touch a woman.

At that moment, the old monk picked up the woman without a word, helped her cross the river, set her down on the other side, and resumed the journey.

The young monk couldn't believe it.

He followed silently, and did not say a word for an hour.

Two hours passed, and when three hours had passed, the young monk couldn't endure it any longer.

He finally spoke.

“We promised not to touch a woman. How could you carry her across the river?”

The old monk looked at the young monk and said:

“I set her down on the other side of the river.

Why are you still carrying her?”