Wednesday, June 8, 2011

A story about contentment


Thus I have heard.....

Once upon a time there lived a king. He used to go for rounds every evening in his country. Every time he used to see a naked man standing happily under a tree at the border where the forest begins. One day the king went to the person and politely introduced himself. The king told: "you look like a great yogi. You radiate so much peace. Please come along with me to my palace. I request you to be my Guru hereafter". The yogi readily agreed. As they both traveled towards the palace, they entered a village. The yogi stopped and said: "dear king, it won't be proper for you if I come naked like this to your place. It will be enough to cover myself if you can give me your shall. The king thought that was a sensible request and gave away his precious shall to the yogi. They proceeded further and reached a small town. This time the yogi said to the king that it is not proper for the Guru to walk and the disciple to ride on a horse. This time the king was a bit shocked but had to yield.   On the way, the yogi himself started to announce to the crowd that he is the Raja Guru. The king was a bit annoyed by all these and became a bit skeptical about his decision. He thought that the person may not be a real yogi, but just a crack. 

Eventually they reached the palace. The king gave all the facilities to his new guest. The yogi really enjoyed a very luxurious life. He also proved to be a competent Guru who helped the king in all his duties brilliantly. A couple of years passed by. One day the king hesitantly asked the yogi "what is the real difference now between you as a yogi and me as a king?"  Yogi said he will  reply to this doubt in the evening. As usual they went for their regular evening stroll and reached the border where they first met. Yogi alighted from his horse and said to the king that this horse belonged to the king. Then he took off the valuable dress he was wearing and told that even this belonged to the king. Seeing this the king was stunt for a moment. Yogi continued, "this doubt came to you not just today but the very first day when i asked you to alight from the horse for me. You may take all these and kindly go back to your palace. You won't be able to leave everything and be here. That is the difference between a yogic life and a luxurious kingly life." 
The king realized his mistake and apologized asking the yogi to return with him to the palace. Yogi said that this is his answer to the king's question. He also told that he was happy in the forest without anything and he was happy in the palace too enjoying all the luxuries. He further told that he will continue to be happy here in the forest under the same tree, and anytime the king needs any help in the country's affairs he is welcome to come and discuss it with him right over there. 

2 comments:

  1. good story- i always want to attain this yogi's mental status

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  2. From my experience, regular practice of meditation is the best way. Vipassana has helped me a lot. My first Vipassana camp was really incredible. All together a totally different world opened up. A different dimension of life. Whatever I had understood theoretically from my readings so far and by listening to great masters, I really started to practice and experience within me for the first time at a very deeper level. Then it simply took over my life. Many things dropped gradually including the outer covering of Sannyas. Vipassana became my breath, my sensations, my life. It is a part of me now. The seed was installed quite strongly. It changed my perception of life to a great extend. It changed the clarity of my thinking. It changed my attitude. It gave a constant strong support during really tough times in my life.

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