Water Bucket Training

Long ago, a Martial Arts teacher explained to his students that they were about to undergo an unusual form of training and the one who succeeded would eventually become his heir.Each of the the three students was handed a water bucket, and a huge water barrel was placed in front of each one of them. The teacher explained that the first one to fill up the barrel with water from a nearby well would win. On the order to start, all three ran to the well to draw water to fill up his barrel. Much to their surprise, however, when they poured the water into the barrels, they found the water rushing out at the bottom. When they looked inside, they discovered the barrels had no bottoms! 'What a hopeless test', they thought. Still, continuing to humor the teacher, they exhausted themselves throughout the night. The next morning the teacher inspected the results and declared each had failed to fill the barrel. The students protested angrily. Finally, the teacher said, "I am willing to give each one more chance. Everyone come tomorrow morning."
Arriving early the next morning, the barrels were brought before them and they hurriedly checked the bottoms. Each had been fixed with a bottom. Their assurance was replaced with shock when they saw that their buckets were now bottomless. Feeling humiliated, two of the students trhrew the buckets down and left in disapointment. The third student decided to follow his teacher's instructions and becan to lower the bucket into the well and carry it to the barrel. Although a bottomless bucket can't carry much water, a few drops remained on the side and went into the barrel. After great effort, a few drops at a time, the barrel was filled with water. He was chosen as the successor and the best choice after all.

A student without the proper attitude for training is like the bottomless barrel. He retains nothing.Arriving early the next morning, the barrels were brought before them and they hurriedly checked the bottoms. Each had been fixed with a bottom. Their assurance was replaced with shock when they saw that their buckets were now bottomless. Feeling humiliated, two of the students trhrew the buckets down and left in disapointment. The third student decided to follow his teacher's instructions and becan to lower the bucket into the well and carry it to the barrel. Although a bottomless bucket can't carry much water, a few drops remained on the side and went into the barrel. After great effort, a few drops at a time, the barrel was filled with water. He was chosen as the successor and the best choice after all.
A student without the proper attitude for training is like the bottomless barrel. He retains nothing.

Source: http://www.hapkido.com/deepthoughts/Water_Bucket_Training.htm