One morning Raman, a true master of the art of archery(箭术), invited his favorite student to watch a display of his skill. The student had1 this more than a hundred times before, but he still obeyed his2
Together, they went into a nearby wood and reached a tall3 . Raman picked a rose flower and 4 it on one of the branches of the tree. He5 opened his bag and took out three objects: his 6 , an arrow and a white handkerchief.
Raman stood one hundred paces from the spot where he had placed the7 Facing his target, he8 his student to blindfold(蒙住眼睛) him with the handkerchief. The student did as his teacher 9
"How often have you seen me practice the sport of archery?" Raman asked him10
"Every day, " replied his student. "And you have11 managed to hit the rose from three hundred paces away. "
With his eyes covered by the12 , Raman placed his feet firmly on the ground and13 the bowstring(弓弦) with all his strength. Aiming at the rose on the14 , he let the arrow fly. The arrow whistled through the air, 15 it did not even hit the tree, missing the target by a few meters.
"Did I16 it?" said Raman, removing the handkerchief from his eyes.
"No, you missed17 , " replied the student. "I thought you were going to18 me the power of thought and your ability to perform magic. "
"I have19 taught you the most important lesson about the power of thought. " replied Raman. "When you20 something, concentrate only on that: No one will ever hit a target they cannot see. "
