Mini Mandala Monday I

The dark and cold days ahead make me realize I need to re-connect with my blog, as well as start reading your blogs again more regularly.  Therefore, this is the first post in what I hope will be a weekly effort - Mini Mandala Mondays.

I think I'd like to start out each Monday with a beaded small or "mini" mandala.  I couldn't think of a better partner for my mini mandalas then short Zen stories.  I simply love many of these stories.  They bring forth life lessons in the simplest of ways.  Some of the stories are immediately intuitive, others need to be mulled over.  I hope you enjoy them.


Muddy Road
   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 into 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?"

From Zen Flesh, Zen Bones.  A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings.  Complied by Paul Reps.