On his first day, he was given the task of going into town and working as a laborer. His job was to help dig wells for the local people. It was back breaking work, and the young man was exhausted at the end of it.
This continued for two more days.
At the end of the third day, the young man decides he can't take it anymore. He's planning to leave the monastery if all he's allowed to do is dig holes. He didn't come here so he could spend all day using a shovel.
The fourth day arrives, and he is not given a task. He spends the day brooding and worrying, still angry and sore over the first three days of hard work.
The fifth day arrives, and again he is not given a task, but our young man is still miserable.
The sixth day arrives, but again no task. Our young friend's attitude is still sour. Now he's worried he'll never be asked to do anything again. He begins to worry that he's been forgotten.
On the morning of the seventh day, the young man sees one of the senior monks headed his way. "Here it comes," he thought. "I'm digging wells today."
To his surprise, the old monk approached him and asked, "I'm here to check on your lesson brother. What have you learned this week?"
"What have I learned?" replied the astonished young man. "Are you kidding me? The only lesson I've learned is that my back hurts when I spend all day digging wells! That's what I've learned!"
The old monk smiled knowingly and asked, "which was worse, digging the wells, or worrying about it?"
In a moment of reflection, the young man realized what he had done. He had spent three days doing back breaking work, but then wasted three days being angry and sullen, when he could have been relaxing and enjoying himself.
The old monk saw the realization in the younger man's eyes and said, "Your first lesson is complete."
He bowed slightly, and left the young man with these parting words: "Remember brother, doing is easy, worrying is hard."
Enjoy the ride.
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