Carrying
the Girl
Two
monks, Tanzan and Ekido,
were
walking down a muddy street in the city.
They
came on a lovely girl dressed in fine silks,
who
was afraid to cross because of all the mud.
"Come
on, girl," said Tanzan.
He
picked her up in his arms,
and
carried her across.
The
two monks did not speak again until nightfall.
Then,
when they had returned to the monastery,
Ekido
couldn't keep quiet any longer.
"Monks
shouldn't go near girls," he said,
"certainly
not beautiful ones like that one!
Why
did you do it?"
"My
dear fellow," said Tanzan,
"I
put that girl down,
way
back in the city.
It
is you who is still carrying her!"
next
zenwave
story
as told in Zen Buddhism, ©1959, Peter Pauper Press
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to ~sandwaves~