Yang and Yin, two monks, were traveling down a muddy road during a rainstorm when they came upon a young girl stuck in the mud. Yang lifted the girl and carried her across the intersection. That night, Yin questioned why Yang helped the girl, saying it was against their teachings. Yang responded that he left the girl at the road and asked if Yin was still carrying her in his mind.

1. Muddy Road Prepared by Prof.K.Prabhakar [email_address]

2. Yin and Yang were once traveling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was still falling.

3. Coming around a bend, they met an young girl in a silk kimono, unable to cross the intersection.

4. "Come on girl," said Yang at once. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her over the mud.

5. Yin did not speak again until that night when they reached a temple. Then he could not restrain himself. "We monks don't go near females," he told Yang, "especially not young and lovely ones. It is dangerous. Why did you do that?"

6. "I left the girl at the road ," said Yang. "Are you still carrying her in your mind?"

7. Reflections One of the most quoted Zen stories. It talk about difference between physical and mental thought process, if mere lifting of a person is a physical process then, you may not carry any more pain or pleasure. If it is carried in mind then we will have the pain or pleasure.