Daily Dharma: Still Carrying Her

Today's Daily Dharma from Tricycle:

Still Carrying Her

Tanzan and Ekido were once traveling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was still falling. Coming around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross the intersection. "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 and lovely ones. It is dangerous. Why did you do that?" "I left the girl there," said Tanzan. "Are you still carrying her?"

~ Paul Reps, in Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, from Everyday Mind, edited by Jean Smith, a Tricycle book

Tags: Daily Dharma, Tricycle, Buddhism, Paul Reps, Zen Flesh Zen Bones, Everyday Mind