Two monks came to a river where there was a young woman unable to cross because of the strong current. One of the monks offered to carry her across on his back, which he duly did. The two monks set off again in silence. After a few miles the other monk said to his companion: ‘Doesn’t it worry you that you carried that young woman across the river when we’re not supposed to have any physical contact with women?’ ‘Ah,’ said the other monk, ‘I put her down five miles ago, but I think it is you who are carrying her now.’

Source: John Pritchard, 2013, Living Faithfully, London: SPCK. p.51