佚名/Anonymous
A young man presented himself to the local expert on gems and said he wanted to become a gemologist. The expert brushed him off because he feared that the youth would not have the patience to learn. The young man pleaded for a chance. Finally the expert consented and told the youth. "Be here tomorrow."
The next morning the expert put a jade stone in the boy's hand and told him to hold it. The expert then went about his work, cutting, weighing, and setting gems. The boy sat quietly and waited.
The following morning the expert again placed the jade stone in the youth's hand and told him to hold it. On the third, fourth, and fifth day the expert repeated the exercise and the instructions.
On the sixth day the youth held the jade stone, but could no longer stand the silence. "Master," he asked, "when am I going to learn something?"
"You'll learn." the expert replied and went about his business.
Several more days went by and the youth's frustration mounted. One morning as the expert approached and beckoned for him to hold out his hand, he was about to blurt out that he could go on no longer. But as the master placed the stone in the youth's hand, the young man exclaimed without looking at his hand, "This is not the same jade stone!"
"You have begun to learn." said the master.
一個年輕人跑到當地的珠寶專家麵前，說自己想成為一名寶石專家。專家毫不猶豫地想把年輕人打發走，因為他擔心年輕人沒有學習的耐性。年輕人苦苦哀求珠寶專家給他一個機會，最後專家終於同意了，並告訴年輕人：“明天來吧。”
次日上午，專家把一塊玉石放在年輕人的手裏，讓他握住。然後，專家便開始忙碌起來，切割，稱重，鑲嵌玉石。年輕人一聲不吭地坐在那裏等待著。
接下來的一天上午，專家還是把玉石放在年輕人的手裏，讓他握住。第三天、第四天、第五天，專家仍然讓年輕人做相同的事情。