In old Japan two towns existed; they had very different values, and were in constant judgement of one another. Once, two teenagers from the opposing villages fell in love, and the girl became pregnant. They couldn’t admit this to her family. So, she blamed it was a monk in the monastery on the hill overlooking their village. The family—and whole town—were enraged, and marched up to his small hermitage to express their horror at his actions.
The father shouted at the meditating monk, “You got my poor innocent daughter pregnant! How could you do this? Especially since you are a monk? What do you say for yourself?”
The monk was quiet for a while and replied, “Is that so?” and fell silent again.
The villagers were enraged at this, rebuked him, and returned to their homes. Months passed and the child was born. The girl’s family returned to the monk with the baby, and handed it to him. “Here, you raise the child!” said the girl’s father. “What do you say for yourself?”
“Is that so?” the monk said. He took the child in arms and became silent again. The family, again enraged, return home.
Years passed. The young woman who was his mother, upon seeing that her child had grown into a fine young man, was filled with remorse. She confessed the truth to her parents and to the entire village. Everyone was shocked, and immediately returned to the monk to apologize and seek forgiveness.
They told him the whole story. The monk again responded, “Is that so?”