A small village in China chose their most promising teenage boy to study with a great Gong Fu master. They had gathered all the money and tribute they could over a period of several years to pay his tuition and were all excited that upon his return he would be able to teach the whole village a very authentic and effective Gong Fu style, allowing them to protect themselves from bandits.

When the boy arrived at the masters home he was greeted by the master saying, "You look quite worthless to me. I'm not sure I can teach you. You must prove yourself by serving me and then I will decide."

The boy washed, cooked and served the master for many months and grew worried that he was not learning anything. With his tuition money running out and the fate of his village in his hands he approached the master and said, "Master I am becoming very concerned that I will not be able to help my village upon my return. I hope I have served you well. Can you please begin to teach me now?"

The master replied that he still thought the boy was worthless but would give him a task. If he could complete the task well he would then consider whether to teach him or not. He sat the boy at his table and put a stack of paper beside him.

"Take each sheet and crumple it was tightly as possible. Call me when you have finished.'

The boy did as requested and called the master to view his work.

"I knew you were worthless. The crumpled balls you have made are no good!. Watch and I will show you how to do it."

He took one of the crumpled balls and squeezed it so tighly it compressed into a tiny nugget.

"When all the sheets look like that call me again and I will review your progess."

Although it seemed impossible to do the boy was worried about his village and how they would receive him if he failed. He began the task and squeezed until he could not go on. He switched hands and did more. Nothing worked, he could not do what the master did but convinced that this was the only way the master would teach him he worked harder and harder every day until after several months of agonizing effort he thought he had finally come close to what the master wanted.

He called the master in and once again displayed the results of his efforts.

"Not bad", said the master but this is only half the task. "You must continue with trying to make them smaller but in addition each ball must then be pressed flat until it is pristine. No wrinkles must show. When you can do this call me in again."

Once again the boy felt overcome with the enormity of his task. Surely this is impossible he thought. Once again he persevered.

After two more months of effort he again called the master in.

"Looks like I was right to begin with. Worthless!"

"That is not pristine. Watch and I will show you what you must do."

With that the master took one of the paper nuggets and put it under his palm. He pressed and rubbed it until the paper was completely flat and wrinkle free.

"Impossible! I can never do this" thought the boy, "but I must."

More months passed until finally the boys money had run out. He approached the master and explained the matter to the master.

"I have been with you all this time and still have not learned Gong Fu. Now my money is gone. How can I return to my village with nothing to show for my time here. Surely they will shun me and turn me out."

The master replied that it was not his problem. Seeing as the boys money was gone he was now required to leave.

Knowing argument was futile the boy left and returned to his home.

On the boys arrival the entire village came out to cheer him and hear the stories he must surely have of his training and the pain and endurance he must have gone through while with the famous Master. What they found instead of a confident and strong young man bursting to show what he had learned, was a shy and dejected looking boy who as quickly and quietly as possible scurried off to his parents home. As soon as he was in the door he was almost in tears and began to tell how he had not learned Gong Fu at all, instead the Master had only used him and given him useless tasks that took up all his time and money. He was close to tears as he finally told them, "I have let down the entire village and have nothing to show for all the time and money invested in me. How can I even stay in the village and live with this shame?"

His parents were fond of saying, "Wait and see." And so they did. In the meantime they said why don't you give your little brother a bath like you used to. You know the two of you always have a good chat and get along so well when you wash him and take care of him. Let us just put some water on while you call him in and get ready.

His brother was upset by all that was happening, even though he didn't understand it all. He knew only that his big brother was home and that he would again get to spend time with the one he loved so much.

In the bath he began to splash and play but big brother still had a sad face. Please he said to him, please soap my back and scrub me there like you used to. Later maybe you will show me some of the Gong Fu you learned.

"I learned nothing!", his brother almost shouted. Stifling his tears he soaped his hands and began to stroke gently across his brothers back. When he did so the first layer of skin on his brothers back immediately peeled away. Looking back to see his wound the young brother looked at the older and said, "Wow, what amazing Gong Fu! Who else could do this but a master?"

The young man went on to be a humble and true master who taught openly and fully. He never forgot how he had learned Gong Fu without knowing that he was learning.