Don't overthink, just do!!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 11 Apr 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

mystic	11 Apr 2002
An old Zen story: Two monks were traveling in the rain, the mud sloshing under their feet. As they passed a river crossing, they saw a beautiful women, finely dressed, unable to cross because of the mud. Without a word, the older monk simply picked up the women and carried her to the other side. The younger monk, seemingly agitated for the rest of their journey, could not contain himself once they reached their destination. He exploded at the older monk. "How could you, a monk, even consider holding a women in your arms, much less a young and beautiful one. It is against our teachings. It is dangerous." "I put her down at the roadside," said the older monk. "Are you still carrying her?" One of my favorite stories. The old monk just did it. No mediation by the intellect. His mind, other than to work his muscles, was NOT a part of the experience..... remember this when debating how to react to something......and what you thought about the reaction....makes you wonder.

Kiama	11 Apr 2002
WOW! Its these kind of stories that people remember, and learn from... Why can't they teach A-levels like that?!! Kiama

Emily	11 Apr 2002
Thanks for posting that Mystic, good story :)

jade	11 Apr 2002
great story. good point. very timely. :) jade

Kiama	12 Apr 2002
I thought about the story some more, and realised that I need to be like the old monk some more, and less like the young monk. But, I have one big question: How can you be like the old monk and just let the past go? Kiama

jade	12 Apr 2002
if you heal your past, get some closure and then move on ........ you will become the old monk. love jade

Malachite	12 Apr 2002
I guess its in the acceptance that once something is done, it is done. You live and learn...thats why the old monk is old...once he was a young monk too...

Diana	13 Apr 2002
Perhaps once one has truly integrated the event, then one has no more need for it and one can let it go.

aciddragon	13 Apr 2002
Oh boy overthinking...My biggest downfall!!! I'm a Libra and I overthink on the simplist things. The past...Well that a whole story in itself. I wish I could learn how to just let go of things. Everytime I think I let go of something... somewhere down the road I find out that I didn't. I constantly dwell on things like peoples actions toward me. It's hard for me to fully trust someone cause it seem like everytime I do...I end up getting burnt. ACK!! All I know is my mind works 24/7 on things. It's a blessing and a curse of being a Libra. (at least to me) :p

The Don't overthink, just do!! thread was originally posted on 11 Apr 2002 in the Chat board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Chat, or read more archived threads.