Obstacles to Growth

Four monks decided to meditate silently without speaking for two weeks. The first day during nightfall, the candle began to flicker and then went out. The first monk said, “Oh, no! The candle is out.” The second monk said, “Aren’t we not suppose to talk?” The third monk said, “Why must you two break the silence?” The fourth monk laughed and said, “Ha! I’m the only one who didn’t speak.”

Each of the monk symbolise a different obstacles to personal growth. The first monk was distracted and bothered by things of the world (the candle) and so lost sight of the goal. The second monk was more worried about rules, mindless obedience than understanding the why itself. The third monk let his emotions got into his way. And the final monk was lost in his ego.