The Three Monks

Long ago, on a quiet mountain in China, there stood a small temple. The temple was home to a young monk who lived a simple and peaceful life. Every day, the monk would fetch water from a nearby spring using a wooden yoke and two buckets. He carried the water up the mountain to the temple, where he used it for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. Though the task was tiring, the young monk performed it diligently, and the temple was always well-supplied with water.

One day, a second monk arrived at the temple. He was older and more experienced, and the young monk welcomed him warmly. The two monks decided to share the responsibilities of temple life, including fetching water. However, when it came time to carry the water, they began to argue over who should do the work. The young monk thought the older monk should take on the task, while the older monk believed the younger one should continue as before.

After much debate, they decided to share the load. They tied the yoke to a long pole and carried the buckets together, balancing the weight between them. At first, this system worked well, and the two monks were able to fetch water more efficiently. However, as time passed, they began to grow lazy and resentful. Each monk thought the other was not doing his fair share, and their cooperation turned into competition. Eventually, they stopped fetching water altogether, and the temple's supply began to dwindle.

One day, a third monk arrived at the temple. He was a traveling monk who had heard of the temple's peaceful reputation and decided to visit. The two resident monks welcomed him, hoping he would take over the task of fetching water. However, the third monk was just as reluctant to do the work as they were. The three monks argued endlessly, each trying to shift the responsibility to the others. As a result, no one fetched water, and the temple's supply ran out completely.

One night, a fire broke out in the temple. The monks panicked and realized they had no water to put out the flames. Desperate, they worked together to form a bucket brigade, passing water from the spring up the mountain to the temple. Through their combined efforts, they managed to extinguish the fire and save the temple.

The experience taught the three monks an important lesson. They realized that their selfishness and lack of cooperation had nearly cost them their home. From that day on, they worked together to fetch water, taking turns and sharing the responsibility equally. They also devised a clever system using a pulley and a bucket, which made the task easier and more efficient. The temple once again became a place of peace and harmony, and the three monks lived happily together.