There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to

The Buddha spoke, “There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.” This utterance is not a simple admonition but a map for the soul. It reveals that the path to wisdom, to awakening, to the deepest understanding of life, requires both the courage to take the first step and the steadfastness to endure until the journey is complete. To linger in hesitation is to remain chained; to abandon the journey halfway is to betray one’s own spirit.

The road to truth is not paved with ease. It is steep, thorny, and filled with illusions. Many stand at its beginning, gazing into the unknown, afraid to step forward. This is the first mistake—not starting. For the journey of truth can only reveal itself through experience; it is not enough to dream of awakening, nor to speak of it in words. Without the first step, one remains forever in the darkness of speculation, enslaved by fear and doubt.

But even greater is the second mistake—to begin but not endure, to start the climb only to abandon it when the air grows thin. This mistake is subtle, for it deceives the heart into believing it has known the path, when in truth it has only tasted the dust at the gate. To stop halfway is to waste the labor of beginning, to quench the fire before it yields warmth. Only by pressing forward, even when the night is long, does the dawn of understanding reveal itself.

History itself bears witness. Think of Mahatma Gandhi, who set foot upon the road to truth in his struggle for India’s freedom. At first, he was but one man with an idea—nonviolent resistance. Many doubted him, many mocked him, and even his own people sometimes despaired. Yet Gandhi did not turn back, nor did he abandon the path midway. He endured prison, humiliation, and hardship, and in the end, his steadfastness changed the destiny of a nation. Had he not started, the world would never have seen his example. Had he abandoned the journey halfway, India might never have risen. His life was the embodiment of Buddha’s teaching.

We see, then, that the wisdom of the Buddha is not only for monks in meditation but for all who strive. Whether in the pursuit of knowledge, in the labor of love, or in the fight for justice, one must beware these two mistakes. Do not let fear prevent the first step; do not let weariness steal the final victory. Every great achievement, every awakening of the soul, requires the bravery to begin and the faithfulness to continue.

The lesson is clear: life itself is the road to truth. Begin the journey, for delay is death to the spirit. Continue the journey, for only perseverance can unveil the summit. Trust not in ease, but in endurance; trust not in excuses, but in action. The one who starts and continues shall be transformed.

So I say to you: if there is a dream in your heart, start today. Do not wait for the perfect moment, for it will never come. And when you begin, commit fully. Let no hardship cause you to turn back. Let your life be a pilgrimage of steadfastness. For the Buddha has told us, there are but two mistakes—to never begin, or to never finish. All else, every stumble and every fall, is but training for the soul that endures.

Thus, walk the road to truth with courage. Step forward, and do not stop. The path is long, but the destination is liberation.