I read the zen parable "Muddy Road" but I don't understand what the moral is. Can anyone explain it to me?
Here is the parable:
Tanzan and Ekido were once traveling 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 go 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?”
3 answers
What happens here? Tarzan does a good deed; he doesn't think about it afterwards. He just did it, period. Ekido knows that monks are not to be attracted to women, so is still thinking about that girl hours later, and the potential for sexual attraction. Sexual attraction never entered into it for Tarzan; he just did a good deed. So, who is REALLY violating the prohibition of monks being attracted to females?
So what lesson is taught from that?
Tarzan acts in "the present" moment as the universe presents a situation (woman needing to cross a muddy road while wearing a silk dress). Tarzan ignores what "people" expect of him as a "monk" and just fulfills a need. He is unconcerned with what others may feel about his action. He immediately returns to his travels and does not concentrate on what happened but is continuing in the "present moment". Conversely, Ekido thinks about what happened (the woman with the sild dress) for the whole trip. He is bothered by Tarzan's choices due to his position (what others expect of him). Ekido is frustrated for a long time and experiences anger for the entirety of the trip. Tarzan is present in the moment and does not think of the incident until he is reminded later about it by Ekido. Tarzan basically states that he put the lady down a while ago, but Ekido has been "carrying her all day". He is saying Ekido has been suffering and not enjoying life on the trip due to his staying in the "past" instead of the "present moment." So this (as I perceive this) means when the universe puts a situation in front of you, do the right thing and move on. Do not look for a repayment, do not dwell on what others think. Get back to the present moment and "peacefulness". Do not allow your mind to continue in the past or guess what the future holds. The "present moment" is the only moment we have. It is where peace exists.
1 answer