There’s a story I quite like; about a Zen master and his eager student.

“I’m devoted to learning,” he said earnestly. “How long before I am aware?”

“Ten years,” the master replied.

“Ten years?!” the student cried incredulously. “But, I’m your best student…well-versed, the son of royalty! I can’t possibly wait that long. If I work hard, practicing every day – 10 hours or more, if need be…how long will it take then”

The master thought for a moment. Looking out to the now setting sun, he replied:

“Twenty years.”

It’s a bit ‘tongue in cheek’, certainly. Though, it does serve to emphasize an important point – that without patience we are unable to investigate the true nature of our experience.

When we lock into the energy of “must have or be”, we lose the capacity for the heart to remain open. We fail to see the inherent need of that which stands before us.

That is, to simply be appreciated.

In this way, awareness is not formed on the basis of learning – but, rather unlearning – all that has served to stand in our way.

Or, as the poet Rumi once reflected, “to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”

In peace, my loves… today, I pray we may embrace this lesson of unlearning.

Namaste ❤️