A young man who had bitter disappointments in life went to a remote monastery, and said to the master, “I am disillusioned with life, and wish to attain enlightenment. I need to be freed from these sufferings. But I have no capacity for sticking long to anything. I could never endure long years of meditation, study and austerity. I would relapse and be drawn back to the world again, painful though I know it to be. Is there any short way for people like me?”
“There is,” said the master, if you are really determined. Tell me what have you studied, what have you concentrated on most of your life?”
“Why nothing really, replied the young man. We were rich and I did not have to work. I suppose the thing I was most interested in was the game of chess. I spent most of my time at that.”
The master thought for a moment, and then wrote a name on a slip of paper. He handed it to his attendant he said, “Call this monk, and tell him to bring a chessboard and men.”
The monk soon arrived with the board, and the master set up the pieces. He then sent for a sword and showed it to the two. “Oh monk,” he said, you have vowed obedience to me as your master, and now I require it of you. You will play a game of chess with this youth, and if you lose I will cut off your head with this sword, but I promise that you will be reborn in the Pure Land. If you win, I shall cut off the head of this man—chess is the only thing he has tried hard at, and if he loses he deserves to lose his head also.”
They looked at the master’s face, and saw that he meant it—he would cut off the head of the loser. They began to play. With the opening moves the youth felt sweat trickling down to his heels, as he played for his life. The chessboard soon became the whole world; he was entirely concentrated on it.
At first he had somewhat the worst of it, but then the other made an inferior move, and he seized his chance to launch a strong attack. As his opponent’s position crumbled, he looked covertly at him. He saw a face of intelligence and sincerity, worn with years of austerity and effort. He thought of his own worthless life, and a wave of compassion came over him. He deliberately made a blunder, and then another blunder, ruining his position, and leaving himself defenseless.
The master suddenly leaned forward and upset the board. The two contestants sat stupefied. “There is no winner and no loser,” said the master slowly.“There is no head to fall here.”
Turning to the young man he said, “only two things are required—complete concentration and compassion. Today you have learned them both. You were completely concentrated on the game, but then in that concentration you could feel real compassion, and sacrifice your life for it. Now stay here and pursue our training in this spirit, and your awakening is assured.