Only by walking on a bumpy road can one hone one's mind

There is a little monk in a temple. Every morning, he has to carry water and sweep the floor. After morning class, he has to go to the town behind the temple to buy daily necessities needed for the day in the temple.After coming back, I have to do some miscellaneous work and read the Bible until late at night.

One day, the little monk had a little free time and chatted with other monks. He found that others were having a very leisurely life, and he was the only one who was busy all day.He found that although other young monks were occasionally assigned to go down the mountain to shop, they went to the town in front of the mountain, with a flat and close distance, and most of the things they bought were lighter.For ten years, the abbot has been asking him to go to the town behind the temple to cross two mountains. The road is rugged and difficult to walk. When he comes back, he naturally has heavy items on his shoulders.So the little monk took a lot of puzzles to find the abbot and asked: Why are others more comfortable than me?No one forced them to work and read the Bible, but I had to keep doing it?The abbot just whispered the Buddha's name and smiled silently.

At noon the next day, when the little monk came from the back mountain carrying a bag of millet, he found the abbot standing by the back door of the temple waiting for him.The abbot took him to the front door of the temple, sat there, closed his eyes and said nothing. The little monk was not sure about it, and stood by.The sun was already west, and several young monks appeared on the mountain road ahead. When they saw the abbot, they were stunned.The abbot opened his eyes and asked the little monks: I asked you to buy salt early in the morning. The road is so close and so flat, why did you come back so late?

Several young monks looked at each other and said: Abbot, let’s talk and laugh, look at the scenery, it’s this time.It's been like this every day for ten years!The abbot asked the young monk standing beside him: The town behind the temple is so far away, crossing mountains and ridges, and the mountain road is rugged, and you have carried such heavy things, why did you come back earlier?The little monk said: I always think about going early and going back early every day on the road. Because the things on my shoulders are heavy, I walk more carefully, so I walk steadily and fast.After ten years, I have developed a habit, only goals and no path in my heart!

The abbot laughed and said: The road is flat, but his heart is no longer on the goal.Only by walking on the bumpy road can one temper a person’s will!

A few months later, the temple suddenly strictly tested the monks, from physical strength to perseverance, from scriptures to understanding, everything was covered.Due to ten years of training, the young monk stood out among the monks and was selected to complete a special mission.Amid the envious and admiring eyes of the monks, the young monk walked out of the temple door resolutely.This young monk back then was the famous Master Xuanzang.On the way to the west, although the water blocked the mountains and was full of difficulties, his heart was always shining with the light of persistence.

The tortuous and bumpy road is not the biggest obstacle to the goal. A person’s will is the key to success or failure.As long as the lights in my heart have not been extinguished, no matter how rugged the road is, the future will be bright!