A young scholar once studied diligently under the guidance of a kind and wise teacher, preparing for the civil service examination. Though he devoted himself earnestly to his studies and dreamed of success, he failed his first attempt. Seeing the student’s discouragement, the teacher quietly placed three cups of tea before him.
“Drink each cup,” he said, “and tell me how it tastes.”
The student slowly sipped the three teas, one by one, and then replied,
“The first cup tastes bitter and astringent. The second has a sharp, bitter edge. But the third—though bitter at first—leaves behind a gentle sweetness that softly fills the mouth.”
The teacher nodded.
“Though their flavors differ, all three teas come from the same leaves. The first cup was brewed from leaves picked this year. The second from leaves aged five years. And the third from leaves aged ten years. After the bitterness fades, a gentle sweetness returns and lingers on the palate. The finer the tea, the longer that sweetness remains.”
The teacher then held out the third cup to his student and said,
“To gain depth of flavor, one must first endure bitterness. Life is no different. Even when you taste the bitterness of failure, if you endure and persevere, a day will come when you can savor a deep and gentle sweetness. So do not be impatient. Continue to devote yourself to your studies.”
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