思想的珍珠篇15：Time to Learn学有所成的时间

A young but earnest¹ Zen student approached his teacher,and asked the Zen Master:If I work very hard and diligently² how long will it take for me to find Zen.”
The Master thought about this, then replied, “Ten years.”
The student then said,“But what if I work very, very hard and really apply myself to learn fast — How long then?”Replied the Master, "Well, twenty years."
But, if I really, really work at it. How long then?” asked the student.Thirty years,” replied the Master. But, I do not understand,” said the disappointed student.
"At each time that I say I will work harder,you say it will take me longer.Why do you say that?”Replied the Master, “When you have one eye on the goal, you only have one eye on the path.”

1 earnest   

n.定金，诚挚，认真；adj.认真的，热心的，重要的

参考例句：

• The words were earnest but they fell on deaf ears.言者谆谆，听者藐藐。
• Her earnest manner arrested me.她那种热忱的态度引起了我的注意。

2 diligently   

ad.industriously;carefully

参考例句：

• He applied himself diligently to learning French. 他孜孜不倦地学法语。
• He had studied diligently at college. 他在大学里勤奋学习。