Sufficient to the moment are the troubles thereof

A Zen story:

A senior monk and a junior monk were traveling together. One day, they came to a deep river. At the edge of the river, a young woman sat weeping, because she was afraid to cross the river without help. She begged the two monks to help her. The younger monk turned his back. The members of their order were forbidden to touch a woman. Then, without a word, the older monk picked up the woman, carried her across the river, placed her gently on the other side, and continued his journey.

The younger monk couldn’t believe what had just happened. After rejoining his companion, he was speechless, and an hour passed without a word between them. Two more hours passed, then three, finally the younger monk could contain himself any longer, and blurted out “As monks, we are not permitted to touch a woman, how could you then carry that woman on your shoulders?” The older monk looked at him and replied, “Brother, I set her down on the other side of the river, why are you still carrying her?  

We can carry the weight of our past mistakes, regrets, and erroneous beliefs—or we can leave them. Sometimes our desire and determination are not powerful enough to sever the emotional shackles to the past; then, we call upon the mighty expulsive energy of our indwelling spiritual force to break the mental and emotional bonds.  Leave the past in the past; carry no burden beyond the moment

 Prayer: My indwelling spirit, your love, mercy and power are infinite. Please direct my mind; let it release all past burdens; let the flow of your spiritual power purge all regret, remorse, disappointments, guilt, and resentment from me. Help me live in and for this moment; to live for you and for the advancement of your children and this planet. It is my will that your will be done.

 Take three relaxing breaths; ask your inner spirit to guide your meditation; reflect on the content, pausing for a few minutes in silence.