(Copyright 2004, Metin Bereketli Associates)

A self-realized meditation master and his disciple were walking along a forest path when they arrived at the banks of a river.

A gorgeous and naked girl was waiting for someone to help her cross the river.

The self-realized master took the girl in his arms and braved the waist-deep cold currents of the wild water. His disciple followed him.

Reaching the other shore, the master lowered the grateful girl to the ground, who expressed her thanks by placing a good kiss on the master's mouth.

The disciple was furious!

Wasn't this the same master who told him to be celibate, not to (let alone touching) even think about women!?

Here he was, not only touching and caressing a naked woman but even kissing her!?

What kind of a shameless contradiction this was!?

Fuming under his breath for the next half an hour, the disciple at the end couldn't contain himself anymore and he exploded in anger.

"What kind of a hypocrite master are you?" he growled. "I thought we were never supposed to touch or carry any ladies as long as we lived?"

The master replied with ultimate compassion.

"My dear son," he said his eyes full of love, "it has been half an hour since I've dropped that woman. But you are still carrying her."

The body never sins. The only sin we ever commit is whatever goes on in between our ears.