Xue Tan learned singing from teacher Qin Qing and eventually asked his teacher to let him return home, because he thought he had learned all there is to know about singing, and all that Qin could teach him. But Xue Tan was quite wrong.

Qin Qing was unperturbed, did not become disgruntled, and stuck with his determination to teach his pupil. He arranged a farewell banquet for him in the suburbs of a city during which teacher Qin sang melancholy songs for Xue Tan. Those melodies were so grand that the nearby trees in the woods were moved, and it seemed as if the clouds stopped scudding across the sky to listen.

Xue Tan's embarrassment showed, because he realized his arrogance and became aware of the long road ahead of him to comprehend teacher Qin's profound abilities. He apologized to his teacher and begged to remain longer with him, to learn more, and never again dared to ask to return home.

No matter if one is in quest of artistic abilities, in quest of cultivation or knowledge—they are inexhaustible. Smugness and arrogance hamper man to move ahead and limit his potential accomplishments. Only with humility and an aware mindset can one achieve any goal. Those who are endowed with special abilities do not need to boast of them; people recognize them, regardless. Those who display arrogance and boast are unworthy of their name and titles.

Read the original German article.