Muddy Road

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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 don't do 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?"

(Nyogen Senzaki & Paul Reps, "Zen Flesh, Zen Bones")

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quote:

The one who carried the girl across the stream had no feelings of lust. He acted spontaneously and with nonchalance. Is the other monk not the one who all along had lustful desires?

(Tsai Chih Chung, "The Book of Zen Freedom of The Mind")

Jalan Yang Becek

Tanzan dan Ekido sedang melintasi jalan yang becek, akibat hujan deras yang masih berlangsung.

Di sebuah tikungan, mereka bertemu dengan sorang gadis cantik berkimono, yang tidak bisa menyeberang.

"Mari, nona," kata Tanzan, kemudian dia menggendongnya melintasi jalan becek.

Ekido tidak berkata-kata lagi sampai malam ketika tiba di kuil untuk menginap. Kemudian dia tidak dapat lagi menahan rasa penasarannya, "Kita, biarawan dilarang mendekati wanita," katanya kepada Tanzan, "terlebih wanita muda dan cantik. Alangkah berbahaya. Mengapa tadi kamu melakukannya?"

"Saya telah meninggalkan gadis itu di sana," kata Tanzan, "Apakah kamu masih menggendongnya?"

(Nyogen Senzaki & Paul Reps, "Zen Flesh, Zen Bones")

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kutipan:

yang menggendong sang gadis ke seberang sungai tidak menggendong disertai nafsu. Ia berlaku spontan dan masa bodoh. Apakah bukan bhikshu satunya lagi yang membawa serta nafsu sepanjang jalan?

(Tsai Chih Chung, "Zen Membebaskan Pikiran")