Sarwan Singh: Let Go!

Here is an interesting fable on Interpersonal Relationship:

Once there was a hermitage in a forest where many hermits used to live. The hermitage had very strict rule regarding women. Women were not allowed in the hermitage. No hermit was allowed to have any contact with women. Even touching a woman was strictly prohibited.

Once a senior hermit and a rookie hermit belonging to this hermitage were passing through a forest. It was rainy season. The river passing through the forest was in spate and was overflowing. The sun was about to set.

The hermits saw a young lady standing on the bank of the river. She had fallen off her horse and had hurt herself. Her horse had crossed the river and was grazing on the other bank. In such condition, it was not possible for her to cross the river on her own. If she was not helped, she certainly would have fallen prey to some wild animal in the night.

Both the hermits saw this. However, much against the rules of hermitage and to utter shock and surprise of rookie hermit, the senior hermit picked up the young lady, carried her across the river, put her on her horse and saw her on her way safely. Both the hermits carried on their way after this,

Though the rookie hermit was extremely angry at the senior hermit as the senior hermit had broken a strict rule of the hermitage, he could say nothing to the senior hermit. But he was seething with anger at the senior hermit for violating a strict rule of the hermitage.

They continued walking. After walking for about ten miles the junior hermit could contain himself no longer and he burst out at the senior hermit and said, ‘Master, you have violated a very sacred rule of the hermitage. I am going to complain against you when we reach back.’

‘Which rule have I broken?’ asked the senior hermit.

‘You have not only touched a woman, you even lifted her and carried her across the river.’ Said the rookie hermit.

‘But, I put her down ten miles from here and you are still carrying her with you!’ said the great master.

How many times do we carry with us what somebody said days, months or even years back? And, what do we carry with us? Do we carry pleasant things which the other person said about us or we carry only unpleasant things which the other person said about us?

We remember exact (unpleasant) words which the other person said to us years back and never have normal pleasant relationship with the other person after this. Do we also remember what pleasant words somebody else had spoken to us on the same day? Do we also remember which clothes we were wearing on that day or what food we had on that day?

We never forget and let go of the unpleasant things which somebody had said even years back, always carry this in our mind and allow this to spoil our relationship for years on end.