A devoted meditator, after years concentrating on a particular mantra, had attained enough insight to begin teaching. A few years of successful teaching left the meditator with no thoughts about learning from anyone; but upon hearing about a famous hermit living nearby, the opportunity was too exciting to be passed up. The hermit lived alone on an island at the middle of a lake, so the meditator hired a man with a boat to row across to the island. The meditator was very respectful of the old hermit. As they shared some tea the meditator asked him about his spiritual practice. The old man said he had no spiritual practice, except for a mantra which he repeated all the time to himself. The meditator was pleased: the hermit was using the same mantra he used himself but, when the hermit spoke the mantra aloud, the meditator was horrified! "What's wrong?" asked the hermit. "I don't know what to say. I'm afraid you've wasted your whole life! You are pronouncing the mantra incorrectly!" "Oh, Dear! That is terrible. How should I say it?" The meditator gave the correct pronunciation, & the old hermit was very grateful, asking to be left alone so he could get started right away. On the way back across the lake the meditator was pondering the sad fate of the hermit. "It's so fortunate that I came along, he will have a little time to practice correctly before he dies. The meditator noticed that the boatman was looking quite shocked, & turned to see the hermit standing respectfully on the water, next to the boat. "Excuse me, but I've forgotten the correct pronunciation again. Would you please repeat it for me?" "You obviously don't need it," stammered the meditator; but the old man persisted in his polite request until the meditator relented & told him again the way he thought the mantra should be pronounced. The old hermit was saying the mantra very carefully, slowly, over & over, as he walked across the surface of the water back to the island.
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