In End the Struggle and Dance With Life, Susan related a tale that shows the difference between the modern-day thinking of “try harder!” and the wisdom about obtaining true mastery. This story relates perfectly to the subject of the newsletter article this month—that the process is more important than the goal.
A young boy traveled across Japan to study with a famous martial artist. The master asked him what he wanted. The young boy told him he wanted to be the finest martial artist in the land and asked how long he had to study? “Ten years at least,” the master answered. “But what if I studied twice as hard as all your other students,” the young boy responded. “Twenty years,” replied the master. “Twenty years! What if I practice day and night with all my effort?” “Thirty years,” was the master’s reply. The boy was thoroughly confused. “How is that each time I say I will work harder, you tell me that it will take longer?” the boy asked. “The answer is clear. When one eye is fixed upon your destination, there is only one eye left with which to find the Way.”