Muddy Road

Tanzan and Ekido, two monks, were once traveling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was falling.

Coming around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross a large mud puddle stretching across the road.

"Come on, girl," said Tanzan at once. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her over the mud.

Ekido did not speak again until that night when they reached a lodging temple, then he no longer could restrain himself. "We monks don't go near females", he told Tanzan, "especially not young, lovely ones. It is dangerous. Why did you do that?"

"I left the girl there", said Tanzan. "Are you still carrying her?"


From Zen Flesh, Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings compiled by Paul Reps


Saw this on some website..