A student came to see his guru. He had not been on the path very long, and when his master asked him about his practice, the student replied: “Guru-ji, although I try very hard, when I recite my mantra and sit for my meditation, my mind wanders, and my body hurts – or sometimes I just fall asleep.”

The guru looked at him compassionately. “Keep working,” he replied. “It will pass.”

Time went by, and the student had another interview with his guru. The teacher once more asked him about his practice, and this time the student smiled broadly.

“Divine voices whisper to me, Guru-ji, and I am constantly visited by angels,” he said.

The teacher again looked at him with compassion. “Keep working,” he said. “It will pass.”