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Zen Stories
Practice Makes Perfect
A dramatic ballad singer studied under a strict teacher
who insisted that he rehearse day after day, month after month the
same passage from the same song, without being permitted to go any
further. Finally, overwhelmed by frustration and despair, the young
man ran off to find another profession. One night, stopping at an
inn, he stumbled upon a recitation contest. Having nothing to lose,
he entered the competition and, of course, sang the one passage that
he knew so well. When he had finished, the sponsor of the contest
highly praised his performance. Despite the student's embarrassed
objections, the sponsor refused to believe that he had just heard a
beginner perform. "Tell me," the sponsor said, "who
is your instructor? He must be a great master." The student
later became known as the great performer Koshiji.
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