FUN MONDAY: A classic Zen story to share with you-
Tanzan and Ekido were once travelling 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 can’t be 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?”
(Sometimes the right decision means not following the rules. The important thing is to act, then let it go and move on.- notes from Brave New Traveler)
V’stars, what did you gain from this story?
I really like the last line (“I left the girl there,” said Tanzan. “Are you still carrying her?”)this is a great way to summarize a story that tells us to do what we think is right and not to be weighed down by over-thinking are decisions.
You described well… Any other comment is… out of order!
With religion such an act of basic kindness is perverted into a sin where you better watch what you are doing, because ‘it’s dangerous.’ Religious morality is a collection of lies, the dictation of traditions declared as forces of nature, and most of all: superficiality. They claim to be philosophers, but they are really the antitheses.
Great story….
Often times we must use thought fillers to catch our self from saying something we might regret. But when it comes down to love there are no wrong answers.
Had it been me I might have been wondering what gifts to give the grandchildren when they graduated from college…guess that counts as still carrying her…
supposedly the wolf pack is the highest social order….shades of Nietche Thus spoke Zarathurstra … is all religion bad?
ditto!
I agree with (William fae Scotland) but i think there is real magic in the awareness of letting go. “are you still carrying her”
it’s a trick i need to practice.
Ha, cool. I actually read this story out of some zen book. I’m not religious-Former catholic… I get tired of all the “We’re Right, everyone else is wrong and thusly hell bound” Bull Shit. Something about Zen though always hits me right and puts me in a better mood. Good stuff.
I truely see what happens if one is placed within the situation of ones feelings of love can never be pysical if one is honor bond to ones religion. Still the same the monk showed his feelings through helping her with his pure intent to show her kindiness. Even though this was the case he still held a place open for her in his heart and he hope she would too.