a pious heart

One of my students went on a road trip and listened to Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth. She related one of her favorite stories in it:

Joseph Campbell tells this Indian story about a student and teacher.  The teacher is very cross with the student for being very late to class. "Well the river is at over flow," he explained. The teachers asks then how did you get here at all. The student said he absolutely believed in his teacher and his desire was so great to get to class that he began to walk across the water chanting to himself, "Gura, Gura, Gura." Well the pious student heart was true and he found he could walk across the water. The teacher acknowledged him with a nod and continued the lesson. That night the Gura was peaked with curiousity. He went down the river where his student had crossed. He looked around. No one was watching. So he began to ford the river himself chanting, "I, I, I." He drowned.

A few things I took from the story: 1) when faith and desire are true you will find a way to get there, 2) one person's truth may not be another's, and 3) try not to be so conceited when crossing the swollen river.