Time to Learn
A young but earnest Zen student approached his teacher， and asked the Zen Master：
"If I work very hard and diligent how long will it take for me to find Zen."
The Master thought about this， then replied， "Ten years."
The student then said， "But what if I work very， very hard and really apply myself to learn fast - How long then？"
Replied the Master， "Well， twenty years."
"But， if I really， really work at it. How long then？" asked the student.
"Thirty years，" replied the Master.
"But， I do not understand，" said the disappointed student. "At each time that I say I will work harder， you say it will take me longer. Why do you say that？"
Replied the Master， "When you have one eye on the goal， you only have one eye on the path."
一位年轻而诚挚的佛教子弟走近他的老师，向禅学大师问道：
"如果我非常刻苦勤奋地学习，要多长时间才能练成佛呢？"
大师思考了片刻，然后回答："10年。"
弟子又问："但如果我非常、非常刻苦地投入学习呢――那需要多长时间？"
大师答道："20年。"
"可是，如果我真的非常、非常努力地学习，需要多长时间呢？"
"30年，"大师回答。"
"这，我就有些不懂了。"有些失望的弟子说，"每次我都说更加努力，而你却说需要更多的时间。这是为何呢？"
大师答道："如果你把一半的精力都倾注在结果上，那么你在过程中也只能付出一半的精力。"
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