Buddhist Parable 5: Attachment (Monk & Young Woman)

Once there was a devoted old woman who built a place of retreat for a monk, arranging that he would not lack for anything, so that he could concentrate upon his meditation and practice.

One day, after twenty years, she instructed her daughter: “Today, after serving the Master his meal, take advantage of the situation to embrace him tightly, asking him at the same time, ‘how does it feel to be hugged these days?’ Come back and let me know his answer as faithfully as you can.”

The daughter dutifully did as she was told, putting her arms around the Master and asking the question.

The Master replied, “I am not moved in the very least by sexual desire, no different from a dried up tree leaning against a cold mass of rocks in the middle of winter, when not even a drop of warmth can be found.”

The young woman repeated the answer to her mother, who said unhappily, “I have really wasted my time and effort during the last twenty years. Little did I know that I was only supporting a common mortal!”

Having said this, she went out, evicted the monk, lit a fire, and burned the meditation hut to the ground.

In truth, it is rare enough these days for anyone to cultivate to the level of that monk. As far as the old woman is concerned, she is said to be a saint in disguise. Her action of burning down the hut was to “enlighten” the Master.

Why is this so?

It is because, while not moved by sexual desire, he still saw himself as pure and was still attached to the empty and still aspects of Samadhi (a state of deep meditative contemplation which leads to higher consciousness). Thus, he had not attained true and complete Awakening.

Source: Thus Have I Heard Buddhist Parables and Stories