After completing the daily discourses, a
Zen master was walking along the forest with a student. On reaching the river,
they found a beautiful girl waiting on the banks.
On seeing the Zen master, the girl walked up to him and said, “Sir, I don’t
know how to swim. Can you carry me across the waters?” The Zen master smiled
and hoisted her upon his shoulders and began walking across the shallow waters
of the river.
The student was mighty confused by the master’s act of touching a beautiful
girl. Not just that but carrying the damsel on his shoulders.
On reaching the shores, the master put her down. The girl thanked the master
and left. The master smiled and began his journey as if nothing had happened.
One hour passed by. The master and student were walking along silently.
Unable to contain his thoughts, the young student asked, “Master, you said we
should not be touched by worldly pleasures a few hours ago. But you just
touched, lifted and carried a beautiful girl. Were your thoughts not stained by
this act?”
The Zen master smiled,” Son, you see I carried her on my shoulders and dropped
her on the banks long ago.
But you’re still carrying her in your
head.”
The boy was silent; he realized and thinks her
as she only.