The story begins with a man walking outside. He was deep into his thoughts when a young child ran up and thrust a piece of paper into his hands. The interaction awoke the man from his daydream. He stared at the words on the colorful flyer, which read, “Come at 5 p.m. sharp if you want to become enlightened.”
The man considered what it would be like to be enlightened. He laughed at the thought, imagining himself in a state where his worldly cares would vanish, his life would be transformed, and he would live a life of ease and comfort. His thinking suddenly turned, “This is not real. I have much to do,” and he continued with his day.
Yet as morning became afternoon, he kept thinking of the invitation. He found himself dreaming, wishing, and even craving to be enlightened. The workday was ending, so he decided to slip out early to see what enlightenment was all about. He arrived at the house from the flyer, knocked on the door, and explained, “I am here to be enlightened.” The person at the door stared blankly back and said with some force, “You’re late!” and shut the door.
The action felt rude. Didn’t the doorman understand work was busy?
He knocked again, and the same scene played out. The door opened, and the same blank face answered, saying, “You’re late,” as he shut the door.
This was so unfair! The man thought I wanted to be enlightened, and I have been thinking about this all day. It isn’t my fault that there was traffic! Again he knocked on the door, and again the blank face said, “You’re late,” and shut the door.
This scenario continued even though he pleaded, with long eyes and folded hands, “Please, I am here for enlightenment.”
It continued even when he complained, “Now hear, hear, I get to be enlightened!” while again and again, the blank face said, “You’re late,” and then shut the door.
Dejected and sitting on the curb, the desire to be enlightened was simply too strong for him to let go. Again, he went and knocked on the door. He was greeted once more by the same blank face who said, “You’re late.” However, before the door could be shut this time, he simply answered, “Yes, I am.”
What happened next surprised the man, for the greeter opened the door wide and said, “Welcome! We are so glad you came tonight.”
The man was floored and bewildered, “Why are you letting me in now when I have been asking for the last hour?” The doorman chuckled, “Acceptance is on our path to enlightenment. When you accepted that you were late, everything changed. ”
