The
Instructor
A young man wanted to learn the art of sword fighting.
He went to the greatest instructor in the land and said, “Please give me
admissi on and teach me sword fighting.”
The
instructor gladly accepted him a student and said, “Young man, you can stay
with me and learn this art.”
In
the days that folowed, the instructor gave him many odd chores to perform. The
chores were sweeping the floors, cutting vegetables, cooking and the like. But
there was no mention of the sword or the art of fighting with it.
The
young man got desparate, then approached the instructor and said, “Great
teacher, kindly begin my lessons.” The instructor agreed.
The
next day when young man was cooking, the instructor came from behind and hit
him with a wooden sword and vanished. The young man was taken by surprise. The
next day the same thing happened. The young man now started preparing himself
mentally to counter any such surprising attacks.
Next
time when instructor came to attack him, the young man was able to dodge the
below of the sword. The young man was very happy with his performance. He asked
the instructor, “Now have I learned the art of defending myself?” the
instructor did not respond to his question and walked away.
Such
surprising attacks became common, and the young man got more and more skillful
in countering the attacks well.
One
day the young man saw the instructor engaged seriosly in a task, and a sudden
desire crept into his head. He thought, “Now let me catch the instructor
unawares and attack him.”
He
took the wooden sword and attacked the instructor without a sound from behind.
However, the instructor was fully prepared for it. He took a shield lying near,
turned around and defended himself most skillfully.
Realization
struck the young man that moment. He thought, “How great is this instructor.
Today I have learned the real secret of sword fighting. He has taught me that
swinging the sword and learning the opponents moves are not the essentials of
sword fighting. What is important is to read what goes on in the opponent’s
mind and the counter his movement and his thoughts too.”
Finally,
the young man continued to take instructions in all humbleness and with newer
insights trained well to become a great sword fighter of his country.
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