Length of the road

A young but earnest student approached a Zen master with a preliminary query, "If I work very hard and with diligence how long will it take for me to learn Zen." The Master immediately replied, "Ten years."

The student then said, "But what if I work very, very hard and really apply myself to learn fast -- How long then?" Replied the Master, "twenty years." "But, if I really, really work at it. How long then?" the student persisted. "Thirty years," replied the Master.

"But, I do not understand," said the disappointed student. "At each time that I say I will work harder, you say it will take me longer. Why do you say that?" Replied the Master," When you have one eye on the goal, you only have one eye on the path."

So often, when we seek to learn something, we keep worrying about ‘when’ we would ‘reach’ the destination, instead of focusing on the purpose of the trip. The approach to learning needs an attitude of patience. Time, it is said, seems to fly slower to the one whose main occupation is to watch its flight.

More importantly, when we are seized by the length of the road we tend to let go of the exciting experiences during the journey of learning. We subject ourselves to an additional load on our mind which results in the creation of unnecessary stress that further clouds our visibility on the learning curve. It is prudent to ponder on ‘how’ rather than on ‘when’.

To BE BETTER at learning sans the load,
May we never mind the length of the road!

- Pravin K. Sabnis