There is a story of a great yogi; his name was Janak. India has worshiped him for centuries, and India has not worshiped anybody else like him because he is unique in one way. Buddha left his palace, kingdom; Mahavir left his palace and kingdom; Janak never left. Buddha and Mahavir are in the thousands, the whole history is full of them -- Janak seems to be unique. He did not follow the pattern. He remained in the palace; he remained a king. It happened that a young seeker was told by his Master, Now, you go to Janak. Your last initiation will be done by him. Whatsoever I could teach I have taught you, but I am a beggar. I dont know anything about the world; I have renounced it. You must go to a man who knows about the world. This is going to be your last initiation. Before you renounce you must ask somebody who knows the world. I dont know it, so go to Janak the king. The disciple was a little hesitant because he was ready to renounce and he didnt believe that this Janak can be an enlightened man. If he is enlightened, then why is he in the palace? Ordinary logic: he should renounce everything. He should not possess anything because that is one of the basic things -- to become non-possessive, to remain in non-possessiveness, in pure austerity of non-possessiveness. One becomes so simple, so innocent, why is he living as a king? But when the Master said, he had to go. Hesitantly, reluctantly, he reached. The evening he reached, Janak invited him to the court. There was much jubilation. Beautiful girls were dancing, wine and women, and everybody was almost drunk. This young man from an ashram could not believe his eyes, and he could not believe his old Master -- why that fool has sent him here. For what? He was disturbed so much that he wanted to leave immediately, but Janak said, That will be insulting. You have come; be here at least one night. Tomorrow morning you can leave. And why are you so disturbed? Rest a little while. In the morning I will ask you for what purpose you have come. The young man said, Now there is no need to ask anything. I have seen with my own eyes what is happening here. Janak laughed. The young man was taken care of -- fed well, given a good massage and a bath, given a beautiful room, very costly bed. He was tired, coming on foot from the jungle monastery to the capital, and he wanted to rest. The moment he lay down on the bed, he saw a sword hanging just above him by a very thin thread. He could not believe what was the point of it all, and he has been received so well and now why this joke. He could not sleep the whole night -- continuously the fear. He could not enjoy the bed, he could not enjoy the palace -- the sword was hanging on top of him. In the morning the king inquired, Did you sleep well? He said, How could I sleep? What nonsense are you talking to me? Everything was okay, but that sword just hanging by a thin thread -- any moment it can fall. Just a breeze, and I will be killed. So the king said, You couldnt enjoy the bed? It is the most beautiful we have in this palace, and the room that I have given to you is the most luxurious. He said, I dont even remember that room and that bed. I have never been in such suffering -- because of that sword. The king said, Then it is better you dont go. I am in this palace, but the sword is hanging on me -- the sword of death. And the thread is thinner than this, and any moment I can die. When one remembers death, how can one possess anything? The place is there, the palace is there, the kingdom is there -- but death is more there than anything else. How can one possess? When death is there, and one remembers it, one becomes non-possessive. Then one knows, I can possess only myself. Death will take everything else” Writer : Unknown
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 08:59:20 +0000
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