Finding Acceptance in the Face of Control

[Aion]

One of my favorite yogic stories is of a master who is seeing off his student who is going off for his first major retreat. He is nervous and as he is departing on the boat he asks his master for any final advice. The master laughs and turns around and lifts his robe, showing the student his calloused and pock-marked behind. The message here is, "do the work!", and the example is, sit, meditate.

It reminds me of another sort of similar story of a master who is on his deathbed. His students are all gathered around, and they are asking him if he has any final words to share with them.
He says, "Attention."
They say, okay, but what else, attention and what?
He says again, "Attention."
They are confused but they are thankful, they hope to get anything that can help guide them, so they ask one more time.
He says again, "Attention."
The master then passes away, and the students finally realize the teaching. Had they given their attention, they would not have needed to ask any questions, but instead would have been totally present with the master.

I like these little parables as ways to demonstrate the need for care and the effort that goes in to work in consciousness.