The Dirt of the Mind : Buddha story

An old monk and a young monk were walking near a river. Suddenly, they saw a young woman drowning and crying for help. Without thinking, the young monk jumped into the river and saved her life.

The old monk became angry. He said, “You touched a woman. This breaks your vow. I will complain to the Buddha.”They both went to Lord Buddha.

The old monk told Buddha that the young monk should be punished because he had touched a woman and lost his celibacy.

Buddha then asked the old monk, “Why are you so disturbed?”. After listening, Buddha said something surprising:

“The young monk lifted the woman and left her on the riverbank, but you lifted her in your mind and carried her all the way here. She is still in your thoughts, but he saved her and then let go.”

Buddha explained that real impurity is in the mind, not in the action done with good intention.

Then Buddha taught four ways to keep the mind pure:

1.Keep a healthy and clean mind—do not think wrongly about others.

2. Control the senses.

3. Stay in good company.

4. Practice devotion and prayer

Learning from the Story

1.A pure intention matters more than rigid rules.

2. Helping someone in need is not wrong.

3. Judgment and attachment in the mind create impurity, not compassion.

4. Let go of negative thoughts instead of carrying them.

5. True spirituality begins with inner cleanliness.

🧠 Message: You may let go of actions, but if you hold on to thoughts, the mind becomes impure. Clean the mind, and right action will follow.