The Skill of Archery

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Guru Dronacharya was teaching his disciples the skill of archery, the art of using bow and an arrow. He decided to test his students.

Dronacharya hung a toy bird from a tree and told his disciples to aim at the eye of the bird. First he called Yudhishtira. As Yudhishtira was taking aim, Dronacharya asked him, “what can see at this moment?’’

“Guruji, I see everything’’, replied Yudhishtira, “I see the bird, I see the branches and I see the leaves.’’

“Put your bow aside,’’ commanded the Guru.

“You are unable to take the aim. You have not learnt the art of archery.’’

The next to try was Duryodhana. Once again Dronacharya asked the question. Duryodhana replied, “Maharaja! I can see the bird, the bird’s eye, the tree, the branches and the leaves. I can see everything.’’

Dronacharya called upon his other student to try and from all of them he received the same answer.

Finally, Dronacharya called upon Arjuna to take the aim. When he repeated the question, Arjuna replied, “Guruji, at this moment I cannot see any thing expect the eye of the bird.’’

Guru Dronacharya was happy. “You, Arjuna, are the only one who has understood the art of taking aim,’’ he said.

In real life too, this should be your aim. You should concentrate with you mind and body on whatever work you are doing. You should pay full attention in the class. When you are reading a book or learning a lesson, your attention should be entirely focused on what you are doing.

When you do one thing at a time, you are able to pay full attention. You are not distracted. If try to do too many things at one time, you will not be successful.

So, do one thing at a time. Do it carefully. Pay your full attention to it, concentrate on it. You will be a winner.