Most readers would have heard this story which is a popular zen story on the internet. The story goes thus...
A Martial Arts Student went to his teacher and said earnestly, "I am devoted to studying your martial system. How long will it ake me to master it". The teachers reply was casual, "Ten Years".. Impatiently the student answered, "But I want to master it faster than that. I will work hard, very hard, I will practice every day, ten or more hours a day if I have to do it. How long will it take then?"
The teacher thought for a moment and said... "20 Years"
The teacher was emphasizing the virtue and value of being patient. You really need some time to master a given task, job or capability. For those who learnt car driving .....Imagine putting 12 hours of lessons in one day to learn to drive. It never happens that way. The reason is that our brain takes time to go through the experience and slot the same into relevant repositories. So although 20 years might seem exaggerated it is the message about being patient in accomplishment. Some may do it faster and some slower but one needs to pace it as per his or her capabilities.
When you try to deliver too much too soon there are bound to be mistakes, slip ups, and costly consequences but there could always be exceptions. Either the work would get compromised or the individual would get burnt out. Think of dieting all at once in a week rather than six months to shed a few kilos. Consequences would be anyone's guess.
Many things that we do in life go un-enjoyed and un-cherished because we rush through it and don't really soak into the process of doing so. Remember the last walk you had to a store or a friends place.... Did you take time to enjoy the nature, beauty of things on the way, the birds, the trees, the clouds or the starry night. All that was probably at the back of your mind and out of focus. (Read my blog on Focus bringing attention)
We will enjoy things more if we LIVE through the experience and savor it rather than trying to rush.
However the message should not be confused with complacency or delayed fulfillment. It is about setting a right pace and optimal time for things.
A Martial Arts Student went to his teacher and said earnestly, "I am devoted to studying your martial system. How long will it ake me to master it". The teachers reply was casual, "Ten Years".. Impatiently the student answered, "But I want to master it faster than that. I will work hard, very hard, I will practice every day, ten or more hours a day if I have to do it. How long will it take then?"
The teacher thought for a moment and said... "20 Years"
The teacher was emphasizing the virtue and value of being patient. You really need some time to master a given task, job or capability. For those who learnt car driving .....Imagine putting 12 hours of lessons in one day to learn to drive. It never happens that way. The reason is that our brain takes time to go through the experience and slot the same into relevant repositories. So although 20 years might seem exaggerated it is the message about being patient in accomplishment. Some may do it faster and some slower but one needs to pace it as per his or her capabilities.
When you try to deliver too much too soon there are bound to be mistakes, slip ups, and costly consequences but there could always be exceptions. Either the work would get compromised or the individual would get burnt out. Think of dieting all at once in a week rather than six months to shed a few kilos. Consequences would be anyone's guess.
Many things that we do in life go un-enjoyed and un-cherished because we rush through it and don't really soak into the process of doing so. Remember the last walk you had to a store or a friends place.... Did you take time to enjoy the nature, beauty of things on the way, the birds, the trees, the clouds or the starry night. All that was probably at the back of your mind and out of focus. (Read my blog on Focus bringing attention)
We will enjoy things more if we LIVE through the experience and savor it rather than trying to rush.
However the message should not be confused with complacency or delayed fulfillment. It is about setting a right pace and optimal time for things.
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