If You Love, Love Openly

Posted by Brad Osborne on March 5, 2023 · 7 Comments 

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In the small village of Takenaka, there was a small monastery led by a well-revered Taoist Master. With him lived and studied twenty monks and one nun whose name was Eshon. Eshon was very pretty, even though her head was shaved and her dress plain. Over time and with no encouragement from Eshon, several monks fell secretly in love with her. Eventually one monk was so taken by her that he wrote her a love letter speaking of his deep and undying love and insisting upon a private meeting. Eshon did not reply.

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Eshon was troubled by the misplaced admiration. She slept without rest that night, pondering how to resolve the dilemma now before her. She could not ask the Master for his learned advice for fear he would demand the name of her brother and suffer him to leave the monastery. She could not approach the love struck monk in private to dissuade his feelings for fear this secret tryst would only fuel his belief that she returned his love in some way. She meditated on her situation till dawn’s light graced the valley.

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The next day the Master gave a lecture to his group of followers. When he had finished, Eshon arose. She turned addressing her fellow monks saying, “If you love me so much, come and embrace me now.” None of the monks stirred. Even the brother, who had expressed such deep and undying love, would not risk exposing himself to his brothers or his Master. After a moment, she walked from the group knowing this problem would never plague her again.

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© 2012  Commonsensibly Speaking ~ Brad Osborne

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Filed under Taoist Parables · Tagged with admiration, being in love, emotion, free expression, individual, infatuation, Life lessons, love, openess, personal growth, relationships, secret love, sex, Tao, Tao Te Ching, taoism, taoist, teachings