A father was concerned about his sixteen-year-old son, who seemed to lack courage. He decided to seek help from a Buddhist monk to train the boy.
The monk told the father, "Leave your son with me. I will help him become a true man within three months. However, you must not visit during this time."
Three months later, the father returned. The monk arranged a boxing match between the boy and an experienced fighter. Every time the boy was struck and knocked down, he immediately stood back up. After this happened several times, the monk asked the father, "What do you think of your son now?"
"What a disgrace!" the father exclaimed. "I never imagined he would be knocked down so easily. There's no point in leaving him here any longer."
"I'm sorry that is all you see," the monk replied. "Do you not see that each time he falls, he gets back up without crying? That is the very courage you wanted him to have."