Zen Shorts

I am going to fight the urge to go work in my garden right now and finish some needle-felting projects. Should have them finished and posted tomorrow.
Seamus turned 3 this weekend and he received, among his plethora of presents, a wonderful book: Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth. (Thanks Grandma Joy!) It is a Caldecott Honor book and is fabulous! This story from the book especially hit home and I thought I would share.

A Heavy Load
Two traveling monks reached a town where there was a young woman waiting to step out of her sedan chair. The rains had made deep puddles and she couldn't step across without spoiling her silken robes. She stood there looking very cross and impatient. She was scolding her attendants. They had nowhere to place the packages they held for her, so they couldn't help her across the puddle.
The younger monk noticed the woman, said nothing, and walked by. The older monk quickly picked her up and put her on his back, transported her across the water, and put her down on the other side. She didn't thank the older monk, she just shoved him out of the way and departed.
As they continued on their way, the young monk was brooding and preoccupied. After several hours, unable to hold his silence, he spoke out. "That woman back there was very selfish and rude, but you picked her up on your back and carried her! Then she didn't even thank you!"
"I set the woman down hours ago," the older monk replied. "Why are you still carrying her?"