In the story, a Zen master named Shun teaches a traveler about the dangers of judgment. The traveler shares a story about a woman who is harshly judged by the villagers for her unconventional behavior. Master Shun responds with a story of his own about a man wrongfully condemned as a thief, who was later revealed to have acted out of a desire to help others. Shun’s lesson is that judgments are often based on incomplete understanding and that true empathy requires seeing beyond surface actions to understand intentions and circumstances. The traveler learns to approach others with compassion and understanding, promoting non-judgment and empathy within the village.