A young man presented himself to the local expert on precious stones and said he wanted to learn from him. The expert brushed him off because he feared that the youth would not have the patience to learn. The young man begged for a chance. Finally the expert agreed 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 stones. 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 instructions.
On the sixth day the youth held the jade stone, but could no longer stand the silence. “Master,” he asked, “when an 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 increased. On morning as the expert approached and told him to hold out his hand, he was about to say 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.