standing on a bridge trying to shoot at egg-shells that were floating
on the river. The egg-shells bobbed up and down. The boys could not
hit any of them. They fired the gun many times, but always missed the
target!
They noticed that Swami Vivekananda was watching them. So they called
out to him: 'Well, you are watching us. Do you think you can do
better?'
Swami Vivekananda smiled and said: 'I will try.'
Then the boys said: 'It's not so easy as you think!'
Swami Vivekananda took the gun and aimed at the egg-shells. He stood
very still for a few minutes. Then he fired the gun. He fired twelve
times, and every time he hit an egg-shell! The boys were very
surprised. How could any man shoot egg-shells like that? They
thought. They said to Swami Vivekananda: 'Well, Mister, how did you
do it? You must be a practised hand.'
Swami Vivekananda laughed and assured them he had never handled a gun
before.
'Whatever you are doing,' he explained, 'the secret of success lies
in the power of concentration. Put your whole mind on it. If you are
shooting, your mind should be only on the target. Then you will never
miss. If you are learning your lessons, think only of the lesson. In
my country boys are taught to do this.'
The power of concentration is the only key to the treasure-house of
knowledge.
--Swami Vivekananda
