Digging for Artesian Well
Long time ago, there was a merchant with many followers set a caravan with 500 carts heading to a far country.
When the caravan arrived at a desert which is long about a thousands kilometers, the merchant planned that the caravan would prepared food and firewood adequately, and the caravan would move during the night, and because it is very hot during the day, the caravan would have a rest during the day.
When there was only fifty kilometers left, the merchant ordered that the caravan abandon all food and firewood to lighen up the caravan, and head for destination.
Unfortunately, the jockey in the front was asleep and napped. Cows turned back and head back all night.
In the morning, knew that the caravan was going back, the merchant suddenly stopped the caravan and thought “If I get desperate, all of us will die.” So he scouted around and found a clump of grass. He thought that there may be a artesian well underneath. Therefore, he ordered his followers to dig there.
After digging about 30 meters, they found only a shale. All followers was desperate. However, the merchant crouched down and put his ear closely next to the shale. He heard a sound of water. So he ordered one of strong followers “My son, don’t be desperate, please use this metal ingot knock this shale out and all of us will have water.”
The follower followed the order, he peek the shale many times until the shale was broken and the water sprung out. Eventually, all people in the caravan was safe.
The follower finally reincarnated as a monk. The merchant finally reincarnated as the Buddha.
Moral: Being unflagging causes a good result.