an old story

[Kenshi]

there was a story i heard once form my sensei it went something like this.
Once there was an old martial arts master who had no son to pass
on his school to. So he chose three of his best students and
invited them to his place for a test. When the students arrived
they found three empty barrels. The master told them that
whoever filled their barrel first would be the new master.
So they all started but when they poured the water from
the buckets in to the barrel they realized the barrel had
no bottom. Finally they stopped and said that it was a
waste of time. The master told them to come back the
next morning. The next day the master told them that
whoever fills the barrel first will be the new master. Each
student checked there barrel and the bottoms where there.
How ever this time the buckets had no bottom.
Two students left saying it was a stupid waste of time.
The third students however stayed and drop-by-drop day and night
he stayed until the barrel was full.
he then became the new master

now i know what the story means what do u guys think???

[clutchdoctor]

is it that the last student knew what dedication was and anything in life like a school needs dedication, or else why be in charge of one? to just give up, or close the place, the master knew the right person for the job because he wouldn't give up when it got hard.

[Jim]

I would've rolled the barrel over closer to the tap.

[Kenshi]

close but not truely there

[David]

I reckon...

The bottomless barrel signifies a lack of direction and whilethe complete bucket shows the energy being wasted in trying to shortcut the Path.

The barrel with a bottom signifes a goal or purpose and the bottomless bucket reminds you of the futility of trying to achieve great things all at once.

?

Rgds,
David

[Kenshi]

good stuff david

[xubis]

I agree with jim, move the barrel

[Hannibal]

I reckon the sensei was just a sadistic git!:D

[Andy Murray]

I reckon any good Book Fu practitioner could take out a Master of Barrel filling. :p

[Jim]

No, changed my mind. I would've called a plumber for the poor old master so we could get on with the bloody lessons that I'm paying a fortune for!

[surgingshark]

Jim, you should write your own philosophy book ;)

[Jim]

Yeah? What'd I call it? Jim's guide to mind-your-own-bloody-business? :D

[Tatsumaru]

poor poor Jim................................

[TigerAnsTKDLove]

very interesting story... i think it means true dedication and never giving up.. i would of done the same thing.