Three-Day Monk
Continuing to do what is important, good
for us, and necessary to achieve our goals is easier said than done. There is a
Japanese proverb, Mikka Bouzu—literally “three-day monk,” or more freely,
“three-day quitter.” It describes someone who cannot persist in an effort for
long. The phrase comes from the image of novice Buddhist monks who, unable to
endure the harshness of training, give up after just a few days. For most of
us, maintaining strong willpower is difficult. That is why, if we wish to keep
doing what truly matters, it helps to break tasks into manageable portions that
neither strain our body nor burden our mind. By weaving them gently into our
daily routine, we can continue without relying too heavily on willpower. When
such habits take root, skipping them feels uncomfortable—almost like a physical
unease. At that stage, persistence becomes natural. Once a routine becomes part
of our unconscious rhythm, laziness finds little room to creep in, and mental
stress is greatly reduced. If we sustain these small, steady efforts long
enough, one day we will look back—like a climber who has reached the
mountaintop—and be astonished at how far we have come.
