A king sent his son to a wise monk to be trained as a leader.  The monk immediately sent the boy into the woods alone - for a year - to learn the sounds of the forest.

At first the boy heard only what he was used to - birds, wind, insects.  But, in time, he heard the sounds behind the sounds - the flowers opening, the earth expanding.

When he returned to the monk and reported this, the monk was pleased.  He said that only a ruler who hears the unexpressed feelings, pains and complaints of the people can lead correctly.