In Japan there was a father who hoped that during his lifetime he would see his son become a famous sword master. One day, he told his son that he had a certain friend who was known far and wide for his mastery of the sword. He added that the friend would surely teach his son to be a great master of the tao (or "the all-encompassing correct way") of the sword.

Following his father's advice, the son made the long, arduous journey to meet the sword master. The teacher thought that the young man was talented and had good potential, but he nevertheless addressed him in a stern voice. "So, you want to learn the tao of the sword. It will not be easy."

The young man seemed a little surprised at these words. "Is the all-encompassing correct way of the sword really that hard to learn? How long is it going to take me to understand the true nature of the sword?"

The master replied, "You must wholeheartedly devote your entire life."

As the youth listened, he became more impatient. "My father wants me to finish my study while he is still alive. How can I spend my whole life here learning the tao of the sword?"

"Well, then, perhaps it will take you ten years," the teacher responded.

But the young man thought that was still too long for him, and once again he requested a shorter course of study. The master replied, "In that case, it will take you thirty years to learn the tao of the sword."

That seemed even more impossible to the youth, so he said, "So long as I can complete my study more quickly, I will do whatever you tell me to do."

"You are in too great a hurry to be successful," the master responded. "With such an attitude, it will be very, very difficult for you to learn the sword's all-encompassing correct way. I think you'll need to study for seventy years."

When the young man heard the sword master say this, he knew that there was no use trying to negotiate further. He made up his mind that since he had already traveled a great distance, he would master the tao of the sword before going home. He thought to himself, "However long my teacher wants me to stay here and whatever he wants me to do, I will obey him."

From then on, the master assigned his new pupil the daily chores of gathering wood, carrying water, cooking meals, sweeping the grounds, and so forth. Day after day, that was all he did. Three years went by, and he was sure that he had learned nothing.

One day, he felt especially sad because he had not seen his parents for such a long time and was not making any progress. Suddenly, the master grabbed a wooden sword and struck his apprentice from behind. Thwack! The apprentice felt so dizzy that it seemed that all of the stars in the night sky were streaming out of his eyes. The master attacked his student again without warning the next day, and still again on the third day. Surprise attacks became an everyday occurrence. The apprentice never knew when his teacher would pop out from nowhere and beat him. To defend himself, the young man constantly paid attention to every detail of his surroundings and was always on guard. In this manner, he remained watchful and survived numerous ambushes.

Finally, his teacher came to him. "Three years of daily exercise have taught you patience and discipline, and at the same time you have improved your physical fitness. In the last months you have become extraordinarily alert to your surroundings and quick in defense. You have acquired the basics necessary to master the tao of the sword. Now you can start holding a wooden sword and do what I do."

From then on, the young man worked diligently with a sword to follow his master in the tao of the sword. In time, he became the ultimate embodiment of excellence and was called a "pure indigo-colored flame," the color reached in a metal-working forge when the fire's heat is most intense and even.