Hi Hisako,  Thanks for sharing this story.  I like the message of interdependence that it conveys.  Best Wishes, Steve

 

(A) Story (about) Monks in Kyoto.

What does 500 yen mean to you? I read a wonderful article about 500 yen and one day told my students in the class (about the article). In Kyoto, there (are) is a groups of monks asking for donations. We call this custom "Takuhastu"(托鉢). People in Kyoto used to see these monks walking and asking for charity. When monks say "Takuhastu" in a loud voice, people give them rice, cucumbers, Chinese radish and so on. Why do (the) monks do that? Because (asking) to ask for help makes them deeply realize that they can't live alone and they need to depend on others. Then why (do the) people give (the) monks something? Because by giving them, they (the people) also realized that (their support of the monks) thanks to them, monks can live a life.

(not sure I understood the last sentence.   are the monks being saved or are they saved the lives of third parties?)

Story Monks in Kyoto.

What does 500 yen mean to you? I read a wonderful article about 500 yen and one day told my students in the class. In Kyoto there is a groups of monks asking for donations. We call this custom "Takuhastu"(托鉢). People in Kyoto used to see these monks walking and asking for charity. When monks say "Takuhastu" in a loud voice, people give them rice, cucumbers, Chinese radish and so on. Why do monks do that? Because to ask for help makes them deeply realize that they can't live alone and they need to depend on others. Then why people give monks something? Because by giving them, they also realized that thanks to them, monks can live a life.