The Gateway to Wisdom

There is an old story.

A knowledge-thirsty student went to a renowned guru to learn philosophy. The learned guru kept him waiting for a long time. The young man was playful and impatient, and his patience began to wear thin. Seeing his condition, the guru said that he would be tested to determine if he was a worthy disciple. The guru gave him a book and instructed him to read it thoroughly and return after a week.

 

The enthusiastic student diligently read the book and appeared fully confident and prepared before the guru's feet on the appointed day. When the guru asked, the student replied that he had thoroughly understood the book's subject matter. The guru pondered silently for a while, and the student mentally reviewed the philosophical principles studied in the book. Finally, the guru instructed him to read the book again and return after a month. The student was somewhat disheartened but obeyed and diligently read the book repeatedly over the month. This time, he explained that while he understood the subject, there were certain parts he was unsure about.

 

The guru listened attentively to the student and instructed him to read the book again and return for examination after a year. Although the student was slightly annoyed, he deemed it best to follow the command. He spent days and nights reading every word, sentence, paragraph, and chapter multiple times with great focus.

 

This time, when he returned on the designated date after a year, his head was bowed. He told the guru that he would not pass the examination; he had doubts at every step. Questions arose in his mind about every principle, and the subject matter seemed utterly unclear. The guru listened carefully and declared that the student had indeed passed the examination. The questions that arose in his mind had made him deserving of knowledge.

 

Indeed, curiosity, doubts, and questions are the gates to the palace of knowledge.