The master walked the narrow mountain path through the mists of the morning. Slowly, the path spiralled up the mountain. Patiently, the master walked until, near the top, he exited the mist and saw the student at the edge of the mountain's highest point.
"I see your problem," said the master. "You have chosen a path with very limited options and, now, you are unsure what to do."
The student replied, "Yes, master. That is true." The student gazed out across the gulf between peaks.
The master said, "Tell me what you saw at the beginning of this path."
"I saw a way, in the trees at the base of this mountain. From the point I stepped upon it, I could see it inclined around and up," the student said, looking toward the master.
"Where did you believe such a path would lead?", the master asked the student.
"I knew it would lead to the top of the mountain, master. I knew it could only lead to this edge."
"And, knowing that, you still chose this path?"
Yes, master," said the student. "It was a trail of great beauty and I truly loved the feeling it gave me to walk it's length. Yet, here I am now, at the edge of the mountain and there is no longer a path."
The master moved slowly in the direction of the student and, with a sly glimmer in his eye, stepped off the edge of the mountain and drifted down, slowly, through the mist until he passed from sight. The student called after the master; but, there was only the distant cry of a bird to return his call.
The student sat down at the edge of the mountain and wondered.
Some hours later, the master walked out of the mists at the top of the mountain and spoke to the student, saying, "It is indeed a beautiful path."
"I see your problem," said the master. "You have chosen a path with very limited options and, now, you are unsure what to do."
The student replied, "Yes, master. That is true." The student gazed out across the gulf between peaks.
The master said, "Tell me what you saw at the beginning of this path."
"I saw a way, in the trees at the base of this mountain. From the point I stepped upon it, I could see it inclined around and up," the student said, looking toward the master.
"Where did you believe such a path would lead?", the master asked the student.
"I knew it would lead to the top of the mountain, master. I knew it could only lead to this edge."
"And, knowing that, you still chose this path?"
Yes, master," said the student. "It was a trail of great beauty and I truly loved the feeling it gave me to walk it's length. Yet, here I am now, at the edge of the mountain and there is no longer a path."
The master moved slowly in the direction of the student and, with a sly glimmer in his eye, stepped off the edge of the mountain and drifted down, slowly, through the mist until he passed from sight. The student called after the master; but, there was only the distant cry of a bird to return his call.
The student sat down at the edge of the mountain and wondered.
Some hours later, the master walked out of the mists at the top of the mountain and spoke to the student, saying, "It is indeed a beautiful path."