The Haste

A young girl asked the village elder, “If I work very hard and diligently, how long will it take for me to find mindfulness?”

The village elder thought about this, then replied, “Ten years.”

The girl then said, “But what if I work very, very hard and really apply myself to learn fast, how long then?”

The elder replied, “Well, twenty years.”

“But, if I really, really work at it. How long then ?” asked the girl again.

“Thirty years,” replied the elder.

“But, I do not understand,” said the disappointed girl.. “At each time that I say I will work harder, you say it will take me longer. Why do you say that ?”

The elder replied,” When you have one eye on the goal, you only have one eye on the path.”

What do you think this story is telling us?