An Old Story for New Year's Eve

This is an ancient story that I heard many years ago, so many that I do not remember where I heard it. If it is yours, I apologize...

Tthere was a horrible storm, and a young Buddhist monk was trying to return to his monastery, but... But, have patience, this story is very pertinent to contemporary celebrations of New Year's Eve.

The young monk was drenched, exhausted from walking against the wind. He did not think he could continue, when he saw a light. As he struggled toward that light, he saw that it was coming from a rundown hut. But, at least, inside, the hut would be dry.

As he pushed into the hut, he almost knocked over a woman who was sitting in the doorway. "Oh, a monk?" she asked, "a Buddhist monk almost as rough as this storm."

He begged her forgiveness, but he also begged permission to stay in the hut until the storm passed, even if that meant until the next morning. He assured her that he would sleep quietly in the corner, and she would not know that he was there.

If the light in the hut had been brighter, he would had seen a slight smile on her face.

"A monk wants to spend the night in my humble home? Of course, monk, you shall stay here, but I ask that you do something for me in return."

He assured her that he would be glad to do anything she asked him.

"Then," she continued, "look around." In the corner, he saw a goat, tied to a pole supporting the roof. In the middle of the room, he saw a mat, on which there were a knife and a jug. Along the far wall, he saw a bed.

"If you want to stay here tonight," the woman said, "you must kill the goat, drink the jug of beer, or sleep with me."

What should the monk do?

Let's review three of the Five Buddhist Precepts, which even laypeople undertake; of course, monastics have even more precepts.

... to refrain from destroying living creatures.

... to refrain from sexual misconduct.

... to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness.

Killing the goat may be repulsive, but it may not seem to be such a serious matter. After all, goats and cows and hogs and chickens are killed every day. But, Buddhists see things differently, the precept being to refrain from taking any life.

Sleeping with the woman certainly seems to be sexual misconduct. In the Vinaya, the code of conduct for monastics, every possible sexual activity is specifically prohibited for monastics.

And, then, there is drinking a jug of beer. Would that be so terrible?

What did the monk do?

Of course, what the monk should have done was return to the storm and leave the temptations of the hut behind him. But, he was a young monk, it was a severe storm, and, besides, what harm could come from drinking the beer?

What harm could come from drinking the beer? See, this ancient story is relevant for modern celebrations of New Year's Eve. He drank the beer.

When he woke the next morning, he felt as if Mara's demon elephant Girimekhala ( page 57) had trampled his head. But, then, he felt warm, comfortable. He suddenly realized that he was in the bed, and the woman was sleeping soundly by his side.

In horror, he jumped up to run away, but as he did, he tripped over the body of the goat.