Stuart Wilde Zen-Haven April 5 2013 (Thanks, Soren)
Many years ago in old China there was a wise old sage. He traveled the countryside, walking from village to village teaching and healing people, helping in whatever way he could. He had great wisdom. He had reached that elusive point in his knowledge that many strive for—that egoless state of spirituality and consciousness where one’s sense of self and the eternal nature of things are as one. The old sage was greatly revered.
From time to time young men would gather around the old sage. Some felt they would give up everything to follow him for they knew that by just watching him they would learn. The old sage allowed some to follow him, others he turned away with a kindly word or a promise or a helpful instruction. But he wouldn’t allow any of his students to stay with him for very long. So young men would come and go, each stopping for a while to learn before being dismissed to return to their villages.
The old sage had been traveling, healing and teaching for a while and at that particular time he had with him five students. One night he gathered the young men together and said, “I have to return to the monastery that is my spiritual home. Each of you is welcome to come with me but I must tell you that you will have to be diligent and keep up as the journey is long and I cannot wait for any stragglers. I have to arrive in time for the winter solstice.” He went on to say, “I also have to tell you that only one of you will complete the journey to the monastery with me. Do you understand?” There was a slight pause and then the students bowed and said, “Yes old sage, we understand. We will come.”
So the next day the old sage and the five students began their journey towards the distant mountains where the monastery lay. After walking for two days they camped by a small stream. The students prepared a meal and the old sage ate with them. Soon afterwards the students fell asleep. At about two o’clock in the morning the old man rose from his place. As he did so three of the students heard him, the other two continued sleeping. The sage gathered his things and walked silently out of the encampment. The three hurriedly grabbed their few possessions and followed him. Two were left behind.
The sage and the remaining students walked up a rugged trail climbing towards the distant peaks and a day or so later they came to a ravine. Across the ravine was a narrow log. The sage walked effortlessly across the log, traversing the ravine which dropped hundreds of feet below him. One of the students crossed and then the second but the third was gripped with a terrible fear. Try as he might he could not bring himself to make the crossing. So the sage and the two remaining students paused to bow from the other side and the third student was left behind. The old sage continued on his journey with the remaining two.