Sometimes we are so focused on the rewards we have not really understood the purpose and reason for doing what we are doing. It's at these times that should probably ask ourselves if we are missing out on the journey, I guess if you are going too fast you might not have had the time to think about why.
There is an old fable that does a wonderful job explaining this problem, as part of the speeches I sometimes do, I like to use stories to convey the message more powerfully.
img src
There was once a master who had a very eager disciple at this side, his disciple was hungry for knowledge and attempted to emulate his master in all ways that he could. After being by his side for almost a year the young disciple started to lose his calm nature and get a little impatient, after all he wanted to be also enlightened just like his teacher.
In one of those late night conversations over supper the disciple asked his teacher with a friendly voice.
"Teacher, if I study 7 days a week instead of 4, how long will it take for me to be enlightened like you?"
The teacher replied with no hesitation "5 years"
The answer made the student coil back, but he asked one more time "But... if I study harder, maybe do late nights two or three times a week and still do 7 days... How long will it take?"
The teacher replied "10 years then"
This answer made the young student a bit upset, he did not understand it at all, if he works harder he should of course achieve results faster, at least this makes sense to all of us.
He asked one more time.. "Teacher but if I take absolutely no breaks, and do double the work I'm currently doing all 7 days of the week, I'm sure to get there faster.... correct?"
The teacher one more time said... "it might take you 15 years then"
Noticing the student losing his temper the teacher continued "if you are so focused on the reward, you will never be able to focus on any true purpose"
This story has helped me understand that without purpose, there is no direction and to think of only the destination is to miss out on the gift of participating of the journey.
I wanted to take also this opportunity to thank everyone who has been leaving all these supportive comments on this blog. I'm confident that with time more and more people who understand what it means to belong to the Tribe of good intent will join us and maybe these stories I share can become valuable to many more.
Chao, Tribe of good Intent
Hope everyone is having a pleasant evening.
Much success to you all