A student once approached a Teacher. 'Teacher.' she said, 'teach me the way to wisdom.'
'If you would like, you may accompany me on my way?' the teacher replied.
'Oh, thank you!' the disciple exclaimed.
They set out, walking together in silence. Before long, they entered a very dense forest. They walked on and on without saying a word.
As time went by, the disciple began to lose her patience. 'This teacher is walking so slowly, we will never get anywhere.' she thought to herself. 'Besides she promised to teach me the way to wisdom. It has been days now, and she has not said one word to me! What kind of a teacher is she?'
Just then, the teacher stopped, turned to the disciple and asked, 'What do you hear?'
'I do not hear anything in this miserable forest!' the disciple shouted.
The teacher nodded. And continued on her way. They walked on and on, without saying another word. Then, the teacher stopped again. 'What do you hear now?' she asked.
'I hear the songs of a thousand birds and the wind making music in the trees!' the disciple exclaimed. 'This forest is full of life! Thank you, Teacher. Thank you for bringing me to this beautiful place. Let us stay here.'
The teacher nodded. And continued on the way. Together, they walked farther and farther into the forest, without saying a word. Then the teacher stopped again. 'What do you hear now?' she asked.
'Teacher, I hear the thunder in the distance. It frightens me to death,' the disciple replied. The teacher nodded. And continued on the way. They walked together, in silence, for a very long time. At length, the teacher stopped. 'What do you hear now?' she asked.
'I hear the babbling of the brook. It comforts me,' the disciple replied.
The teacher nodded. And continued on the way. Together they walked in silence, on and on, deeper and deeper into the forest. Then the teacher paused again. 'What do you hear now?' she asked.
'I hear the silence at the centre of the forest. All is peace,' the disciple whispered. The teacher nodded. And continued on the way. They walked on in the silence together for what may have been many years. Then, one day, the teacher stopped, turned to the disciple and asked, 'What do you hear now?'
The disciple turned and smiled gently, bowed to the teacher, without saying a word.
Then the teacher bowed to the disciple. 'I will no longer have to accompany you on your way.' She said. The disciple nodded. And continued on the way.
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