This morning after meditation, Sensei held up a pack of cards in his hand and said, “Monks – please come to me one by one, and try to pull out the Queen of Hearts from my card deck.”
The monks were amused by Sensei’s ‘magic’ trick request.
Business Monk came first and pulled the last card from the deck. It turned out to be wrong. He smiled, shrugged and returned to his seat.
Humble Monk came next. He bowed to Sensei and pulled a card from the middle. It was not the Queen of Hearts. He bowed and returned.
Dedicated Monk took his chance. He bowed thrice to Sensei and said, “Sensei, choose for me.” Sensei gurgled, pulled out a random card that turned out to be wrong. Dedicated Monk seemed crestfallen and went back.
Angry Monk came up and selected the top card from the deck. It was not the Queen of Hearts. He growled and returned.
Truthful Monk took his chance. He looked at the deck; then at Sensei and said, “Sensei, I do not know which card is the Queen of Hearts. Hence I will not try.” Sensei laughed and Truthful Monk went back to his seat, with a smile!
After all the monks had tried, it was Head Monk’s chance.
Head Monk bowed to Sensei and chose the first card. It was not the Queen of Hearts. Instead of going back, Head Monk stood there and chose the next card! It was not the right card again. Head Monk continued to stand and kept selecting one card after another. Sensei giggled and kept obliging him!
On the 40th attempt, Head Monk pulled out the Queen of Hearts!
All the monks cheered and Head Monk bowed to Sensei.
On being asked to speak, Head Monk said, “Sensei, I knew that the Queen of Hearts was there. All I did was kept making the effort to find it.”
Sensei clapped thrice and said, “Most people try to find what they are looking for, only once. And they fail. To find what you are looking requires you to try and try and try again until you find it. Finding something is not magic. It’s just trying many times.”
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