The story features a senior monk and his apprentice walking through the countryside when they encounter an elderly woman needing help to cross a river. Despite their vows not to touch a woman, the senior monk carries her across, while the junior monk is visibly troubled by this act. Hours later, he confronts the senior monk about breaking their vow. The senior monk responds, highlighting that he only carried the woman for a moment, while the junior monk has been holding onto his anger for hours. 

This parable teaches us about the importance of letting go of grudges and negative feelings that do not serve us. Holding onto anger is self-destructive, akin to grasping a hot coal intended for someone else; we end up getting burned. Instead, by choosing to let go, we can focus on more positive and productive aspects of life. Ultimately, our lives are made up of moments, and we should strive to let love triumph over hate, avoiding letting a bad moment dictate our overall happiness.