Early this morning, a few visitors had assembled in the main hall, hoping to be chosen as monks to join the Monastery.
Head Monk (accompanied by the other monks), walked in and placed large buckets filled with hay in front of each of the aspirants.
Sensei entered and said, “Welcome to the Monastery. In order to pass the first test, you have to find a needle hidden in the hay bucket in front of you. Those who find it in the time allotted will be selected for the next test. You can start looking now.”
The visitors immediately started working on their test. Some of them knelt and nimbly began looking through the hay. A couple of them began taking the hay out and gently sifting through it. One man turned his bucket upside down, assuming that the needle would be at the bottom.
Head Monk noticed one young lad who immediately plunged his hands into the hay and began furiously looking for his needle. In a few seconds he found it, smiled and went to Head Monk and handed it over to him. He then stood quietly in the corner.
A bicycle bell sounded and the test ended. Only one man had found the needle.
Sensei gathered everyone and said, “The needle was blunt and harmless but the fear of getting pricked did not allow you to plunge your hands with vigour into the bucket. In life, when you have to accomplish a goal, you cannot imagine fear and then let it compromise you. Just plunge in and you will find what you are looking for, without getting hurt.”
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