March 25

One of the devotees at the temple was well known for his zealousness and effort. Day and night he would sit in meditation, not stopping even to eat or sleep. As time passed he grew thinner and more exhausted, The master of the temple advised him to slow down, to take more care of himself. But the devotee refused to heed his advice.

“Why are you rushing so? What is your hurry?” asked the master.
“I am after enlightenment,” replied the devotee, “there is no time to waste.”

“And how do you know,” asked the master, “that enlightenment is running on before you, so that you have to rush after it? Perhaps it is behind you, and all you need to encounter it is to stand still – but you are running away from it!”