THE ZEN MASTER'S LESSON

[Guest guest]

THE ZEN MASTER'S LESSON

 

After winning several archery contests, the young and rather boastful champion

challenged a Zen master who was renowned for his skill as an archer. The young

man demonstrated remarkable technical proficiency when he hit a distant bull's

eye on his first try, and then split that arrow with his second shot.

 

" There, " he said to the old man, " see if you can match that! " Undisturbed, the

master did not draw his bow, but rather motioned for the young archer to follow

him up the mountain. Curious about the old fellow's intentions, the champion

followed him high into the mountain until they reached a deep chasm spanned by a

rather flimsy and shaky log.

 

Calmly stepping out onto the middle of the unsteady and certainly perilous

bridge, the old master picked a far away tree as a target, drew his bow, and

fired a clean, direct hit. " Now it is your turn, " he said as he gracefully

stepped back onto the safe ground.

 

Staring with terror into the seemingly bottomless and beckoning abyss, the young

man could not force himself to step out onto the log, no less shoot at a target.

 

" You have much skill with your bow, " the master said, sensing his challenger's

predicament, " but you have little skill with the mind that lets loose the shot. "

 

REFLECTION

 

Real talent is being able to apply our skills even in the most adverse

situation- without fear, hesitation, or doubt. Genius is real talent set on

fire by courage.

 

He becomes a genius who has the ability, courage, confidence and determination

to exhibit his talents even in the toughest of situations given to him.

 

It comes only with hard work and practise and is lost when the person becomes

over confident or egositic about his talents. Hence one must be cautious and

excersise humility even if he is a genius, as only his humility marks his

recognition as a true genius!

 

Talent is what you possess; genius is what possesses you.