A PARABLE FOR TEACHER’S DAY

A child was traveling on a path from Kindergarten to Grade 12. The way was often lonely and unfamiliar. Along the way, the student was beaten up emotionally by the demands of the curriculum, the pressure to succeed and her own deficiencies in learning. She felt that her abilities did not match demands. She felt defeated. 

The student lay on the path, unsure of herself, afraid to fail and with nowhere to turn. Who could understand how she felt? She felt that she wanted to give up. The wounds from her school experiences were deep. She did not want to read, it gave her no joy. Numbers and instructions made her nervous. There was no joy to her learning. She felt that her skills were not recognized. And so, there she lay afraid, hurting and in need of help.

QUESTIONS

Á young scholar approached the Teacher and said, “I agree that staying within the confines of my own community and tradition is stifling, but where do I begin?”

“By asking questions,” the Teacher replied.

“What kind of questions?”

“If human beings have discovered anything new, it was always by breaking boundaries and daring to ask two necessary questions,” the Teacher replied.

“The first is – Why? And the second – Why not? When you ask these, the How follows.”

RIDING A BICYCLE

A Zen Teacher saw five of his students return from the market, riding their bicycles. When they had dismounted, the teacher asked the students, “Why are you riding your bicycles?”

The first student replied, “The bicycle is carrying this sack of potatoes. I am glad that I do not have to carry them on my back!” The teacher praised the student, saying, “You are a smart boy. When you grow old, you will not walk hunched over, as I do.”

The second student replied, “I love to watch the trees and fields pass by as I roll down the path.” The teacher commended the student, “Your eyes are open and you see the world.”

The third student replied, “When I ride my bicycle, I am content to chant, nam myoho renge kyo.” The teacher gave praise to the third student, “Your mind will roll with the ease of a newly trued wheel.”

The fourth student answered, “Riding my bicycle, I live in harmony with all beings.” The teacher was pleased and said, “You are riding on the golden path of non-harming.”

The fifth student replied, “I ride my bicycle to ride my bicycle.” The teacher went and sat at the feet of the fifth student, and said, “I am your disciple.”