A young monk gazed over the walls of the temple at the town in the valley below. Upon seeing the townspeople toiling at meaningless tasks, he asked the master, "Why do they not seek enlightenment?"
The master replied, "They are unaware of the darkness."
The monk resolved to help the townspeople, and began every day to lecture about the importance of enlightenment in the temple square. Every day, his fellow monks cheered and applauded his speech, and reassured him that he spoke the truth.
After a week, the master approached the monk and asked whether he was making progress with the townspeople.
The monk replied, "I keep exhorting them to seek enlightenment, but not a single townsperson has stepped foot inside the temple."
The master shook his head sadly and went on. After another week of preaching in the temple square, the monk still had no success. In frustration he sought out the master, asking "Why do the townspeople remain unenlightened?"
After a moment of silence, the master replied, "The fool searches in the light for that which is found in darkness."
The master replied, "They are unaware of the darkness."
The monk resolved to help the townspeople, and began every day to lecture about the importance of enlightenment in the temple square. Every day, his fellow monks cheered and applauded his speech, and reassured him that he spoke the truth.
After a week, the master approached the monk and asked whether he was making progress with the townspeople.
The monk replied, "I keep exhorting them to seek enlightenment, but not a single townsperson has stepped foot inside the temple."
The master shook his head sadly and went on. After another week of preaching in the temple square, the monk still had no success. In frustration he sought out the master, asking "Why do the townspeople remain unenlightened?"
After a moment of silence, the master replied, "The fool searches in the light for that which is found in darkness."