What are you carrying?

Two monks were traveling by foot in winter when they came upon a ford swollen by the rain. A pretty girl stood by the water, crying because she couldn´t get across. One of the monks said, “Come one!” and scooping her up in his arms marched through the flood, put her down on the other side, and walked on. All day his companion fumed inside. Finally, when they stooped for the evening meal he burst out, “Why did you pick up that girl? You know monks aren´t allowed to touch women. And she was pretty, as well!” To which his companion replied, “You´re still carrying her, then?”

    

What you carry in your mind can be much heavier than what you carry in your arms. If you act from kindness and sincerity, you actions will always be right, even when others think them wrong. Above all, always act spontaneously from purity of your original Self. 

 

 

Robert Allen – Zen questions