"A spiritual teacher was rowing a boat along a lake shore. He heard someone chanting the word, 'Alleluia.'
"Ah, thought the teacher, they are chanting the most powerful prayer. They say that if you chant it properly all kinds of power will be given to you. Now I have never experienced those powers, but I do know that the teachers all say you must chant the word as Al-LE-lu-ia and this poor student is chanting Al-le-LU-ia. I should help him.
"So the teacher beached his boat and entered the student's hut. He told the student that the practice of the chant granted wonderful powers. But he had also heard the chant was properly sung as Al-LE-lu-ia. The student was very grateful for this teaching. And as the teacher left and returned to his boat he heard the student chanting, Al-LE-lu-ia. The teacher felt very good that he had helped this student. But as he drifted out into the lake again he heard the chant change. Now the student was back to his old ways, chanting Al-le-LU-ia. Ah, the depths of human sinfulness and ignorance, sighed the teacher.
"A few minutes later, a touch to his shoulder startled him. He looked around and saw the student walking on the water. 'I'm sorry, great teacher, but could you teach me the correct chant again?' ”
