One monk shoulders two buckets of water. Two monks lift one bucket of water. Three monks have no water! This is a story told generation after generation. It has some similarity with the western saying "too many cooks spoil the broth". When there is one monk in the temple, he fetches water for himself. When there are two, they share the duty. But as the third comes, it's hard to divide the responsibilities. Everyone thinks for himself and nobody fetches water any more. At last, a fire in the temple teaches them the importance of cooperation. From then on, they cooperate well and have water every day.