The Spark ("Two Monks and a Woman")

koans

In this Zen teaching two monks were walking through the Forest on their way back to the Monastery. When they decide to cross the river they find a woman on the shore crying because her mother was ill and she was afraid to cross the river to go take care of her because the river was so high. She asks the younger monk to help her, but he refuses, claiming their vow of chastity, however, the older monk decides to help her. Upon reaching the shore, she felt very grateful for what she wanted to kiss his hands, but he did not allow it. The two monks continued the path in silence until the younger one in anger said:
-You have broken your vow of chastity. And the monk asked him: - Why do you say that? –You forgot that you carried that woman in the river. The older monk, with great serenity, replied: I left it in the river, you are still carrying it.

An insight here can be that holding onto anger only hurts ourselves. We must have the strength and the will to let go of what is not helping us grow and move forward.