2 Training a new disciple

the old man looked at the large-eyed creature in front of him. The child was playing sitting in a so-called meditative position on the floor, pads of his feet touching and back straightened, but the old man had cultivated long enough to know idleness despite the child's smartest front.

His eyes were open just a crack, enough for the boy to see but not enough to look as if they were open. thinking the disguise for thoughtlessness was perfect, he did not realize that moving his eyes to trace the grains in the wood would shift his eyelids suspiciously.

SMACK.

"Child, you are testing my patience when it is yours that should be tested. Irony is not appreciated in a place of learning.

Now let me repeat to you so that you might miraculously understand this time:

We are not practicing idleness, nor a brain that travels in the skies wistfully; I want you to deliberately empty your mind of thoughts. you are mindless, and yet this will enhance your learning in the long run."

the boy had winced with the blow but still turned his attention to his master. The boy seemed to feel mindless, that's for sure. He could absorb his master's words, hearing every syllable, and yet the meaning flew in one ear and out the other. he agreed with his master's first words: maybe this time he would miraculously understand.

missing the point but knowing the motions, the boy closed his eyes again and tried not to think of anything. "Don't think, don't think, don't think..." he repeated in his head. Even when he did not mentally say it over and over again, he could frustratingly feel the back of his mind repeating the silly mantra. "ah, this is stupid. My brain cannot be still like he asks. ah, wait, what if master is stupid because his brain can be so empty?"

The boy continued to fancy to himself in jest.

he continued to sit still for a long time. Sometimes, after one thought finished, he would indeed not think of anything. Realizing so, his pride would raise but he would know that now he was thinking about thinking, destroying the aim. This was a cyclical process for the poor boy. Other times, when his thoughts stilled and remained so for a little while, he would unconsciously start thinking a new thought.

The boy's face started revealing frustration in between his brows. It was obvious to the master that the boy was not mindless like he asked, but his face also displayed deliberateness which was half the aim. Instead of smacking his head, he put a firm hand on the boy to wake him up.

Surprised, the boy looked up. The master responded smiling, "did you notice the mindlessness you felt just now? When I surprised you? You can take a break now, but remember that feeling when you return to our lesson."

[lesson, right]. the boy thought sarcasticly to himself, but showed a disciplined expression to his master.

"Thank you master, I will try to keep everything in mind when I continue."

The master smiled again and started pushing himself up using his knees to stand. "As you should."