The Master and His Student

Summary

In "The Master and His Student," a master imparts the essence of life to his pupil, emphasizing the interconnectedness of living fully and accepting mortality.

Abstract

"The Master and His Student" is a profound narrative that encapsulates life's most vital teachings through the dynamic between a master and his student. The master instills in his pupil the paradoxical concept that to truly live, one must not fear death. Throughout their journey, the student grapples with pain, love, and loss, eventually becoming a master himself. The story culminates with the old master's peaceful death, having lived life to its fullest and accepting his end without fear, thereby imparting his final lesson to the student who had long surpassed him.

Opinions

The master believes that embracing the full spectrum of life, including its inherent pain and impermanence, is crucial to living fully.
The student's initial resistance to the master's teachings reflects a common human struggle with the acceptance of life's challenges and the reality of death.
Love is presented as a transformative experience that is both enriching and potentially painful, contributing to the student's growth.
The master's death is depicted not as an end but as a continuation of his influence and presence in the student's life, suggesting that the wisdom of a true master transcends physical existence.
The narrative implies that the roles of teacher and student are fluid and that learning is a lifelong process, with the student eventually becoming the teacher.
The old master's final act of dying unafraid serves as a powerful affirmation of his teachings and the life he led, emphasizing the importance of living with courage and without regret.

The Master and His Student

A master teaches his pupil life’s most important lesson.

I want to live said the student Then you must be willing to die replied the master

The student said he was in pain Do it again it, said his master

I’m in love the student shouted at his teacher But I thought you wanted to live

The student, now a master himself, sat at the edge of the bed while his teacher lay dying

I’ll miss you said his former student You left me years ago said his master

We shared the same roof for many years I am always by your side

His old master smiled You lived and was not afraid to die

You sought out life in the midst of struggle and pain, found and lost love, and found it again

My student left me long ago You became the master

And I have knelt at your feet for many years

Teaching his final lesson the old master died

Unafraid

_________________________ Michael Ritoch on his best days tries to be a poet/writer. He finds joy in his wife, two daughters, cats, one is really fat and the other is neurotic, reading philosophy written by old dead guys, and his friends. He writes about leadership, politics, pain, life, suffering, sometimes happiness, and whatever else comes to mind.