Non-Attachment

Two Zen monks, Tanzan and Ekido, traveling on pilgrimage, came to a muddy river crossing. There they saw a lovely young woman dressed in her kimono and finery, obviously not knowing how to cross the river without ruining her clothes.

Without further ado, Tanzan graciously picked her up, held her close to him, and carried her across the muddy river, placing her onto the dry ground.

Then he and Ekido continued on their way. Hours later they found themselves at a lodging temple. And here Ekido could no longer restrain himself and gushed forth his complaints: "Surely, it is against the rules, what you did back there. Touching a woman is simply not allowed. How could you have done that? And to have such close contact with her! This is a violation of all monastic protocol."

Thus he went on with his verbiage. Tanzan listened patiently to the accusations. Finally, during a pause, he said, "Look, I set that girl down back at the crossing. Are you still carrying her?"

(Based on an autobiographical story by Japanese Zen Master Tanzan, 1819-1892)