Leadership story: The Zen masters most important lesson to his student

A young man, eager to attain enlightenment, sought the guidance of a revered Zen master. He wished to one day become a master himself, and so, with great determination, he devoted himself to the teachings of his mentor. After years of training, the master decided that the student was ready for the next stage of his journey, the stage of self-discovery. The young man was sent away to live in solitude and practice on his own, with only one instruction and that is that every month, he must write a letter to the master detailing his spiritual progress. In the first month, the student, filled with enthusiasm, wrote, “I now feel an expansion of consciousness and experience a profound oneness with the universe.” The master received the letter, glanced at it briefly, and then threw it away without a second thought. The following month, another letter arrived. This time, the student wrote, “I have finally discovered the holiness that is present in all things.” The master read it and sighed, his face showing mild disappointment. Another month passed, and yet another letter came. “The mystery of the one and the many has been revealed to my wondering gaze,” the student proudly declared. The master let out a yawn and tossed the letter aside.

Two months later, the disciple sent another letter, this time proclaiming, “No one is born, no one lives, no one dies, for the self is but an illusion.” Upon reading these words, the master threw up his hands in frustration. With each letter, the student was unknowingly asking for validation: “Is this it? Is this it? Is this it?” Then, something unexpected happened. The letters stopped coming. A month passed, then two, then three. The master waited. Five months, then six. Still nothing. A full year went by without a single message from the disciple. Finally, the master decided to remind the student of his duty to keep him informed. He sent a letter, simple and direct, asking about his progress. A few weeks later, a response finally arrived. The disciple’s letter contained only four words: “Who cares what you think?” Upon reading those words, the master’s face lit up with joy. A deep sense of satisfaction spread through him, and he smiled. At last, his student had understood. He had learned the most important lesson of his life, the journey to enlightenment is not about seeking approval or external validation. True wisdom comes when one stops worrying about what others think and simply lives in the present, free from the need for recognition. And with that, the master knew his student had finally found his own path.