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.
一个年轻人跑到当地的珠宝专家面前，说自己想成为一名宝石专家。专家毫不犹豫地想把年轻人打发走，因为他担心年轻人没有学习的耐性。年轻人苦苦哀求珠宝专家给他一个机会，最后专家终于同意了，并告诉年轻人：“明天来吧。”
次日上午，专家把一块玉石放在年轻人的手里，让他握住。然后，专家便开始忙碌起来，切割，称重，镶嵌玉石。年轻人一声不吭地坐在那里等待着。
接下来的一天上午，专家还是把玉石放在年轻人的手里，让他握住。第三天、第四天、第五天，专家仍然让年轻人做相同的事情。