There was once a good man by the name of Amyn. He had spent his whole life cultivating qualities which would eventually take him to Paradise. He gave freely to the poor and he loved his fellow creatures and served them. Remembering the need to have patience, he endured great and unexpected hardships, often for the sake of others. He made journeys in search of knowledge. His humility and exemplary behaviour were such that his reputation as a wise man and good citizen resounded from the East to the West, and from the North to the South.
Amyn exercised all these qualities whenever he remembered to do so, but his one shortcoming was heedlessness. This tendency was not strong in him, and he considered that balanced against the other things which he did practice. It could only be regarded as a small fault.
Amyn was fond of sleep, and sometimes when he was asleep, opportunities to seek knowledge, or to understand it, or to practice real humility, or to add to the sum total of good behavior, passed him by and did not return. Just as the good qualities left their impress upon his essential self, so did the characteristic of heedlessness.
And then one day, Amyn died. Finding himself beyond this life, and making his way toward the doors of Paradise, he paused to examine his conscience. He felt that his opportunity of entering Paradise were enough.
The gates were shut, and then a voice addressed Amyn saying: "Be watchful, for the gates will open only once every hundred years!"
So, Amyn settled down to wait, excited at the prospect, but deprived of chances to exercise virtues towards humankind, he found his capacity of attention was not enough for him. After watching for what seemed like an age, his head nodded in sleep. For an instant his eyelids closed, and at that moment the gates yawned open. Before his eyes were fully open again, the doors closed, with a roar loud enough to wake the dead!

Adapted and reprinted with permission from http://www.zensufi.com/story.htm. For further information, please contact zs@zensufi.com. Originally called, "The Parable of Heedlessness," some have attributed a variation of this story to Hazrat Ali and others to Prophet Muhammad. This version is by a 17th century dervish, Amil-Baba

Q: Amyn thought that because he was a genuinely good person, he therefore did not have to develop his capacity for attention. Often we may feel that we are good enough, and thus do not need to try to change any further. How can we avoid the pitfalls of complacency, when we can instead continue to change and grow? Can we do this on our own, or is it better to have the help of others? Who do you think would be able to guide you in this?

O, Master!
Thou art the real goal of human life.
We are yet but slaves of wishes
Putting bar to our advancement,
Thou art the only God and power
To bring us up to that stage.