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Our Protection in an Unprotected World 21 this morning, as Bimbisara was riding along on his horse, the birds were chirping, the flowers were blossoming, and nature was in full bloom.
Riding by, he saw the monk sitting under the tree meditating, and thought, “Why is this young man sitting and meditating here? He must be engulfed in poverty. Let me help him.” So he called out, “Young man, what are you doing here? You appear like a mendicant."
“Yes, sir,” answered the young monk. “What is your name?” the king inquired.
“My name is Anatha, the unprotected one. I am protectionless."
The king was shocked. “When a king like me is lord of this whole province, how can you call yourself Anatha, kingless?”
“Sir,” answered the monk, “shall I tell you my story? Do you have patience?"
"Yes," said the king eagerly. “I would like to hear you.”
This is the story he related. “I was in my twenties and I had a beautiful wife, a big family, wealth, a beautiful house, plenty of money, food, and jewelry. All loved me, and at that time I was in the full bloom of youth. I became so egotistical and proud of myself I would not look down. I thought that the world must be at my feet. 'Whatsoever I desire, the world brings to me,' is the way I used to think.
“This ego I continued building inside. As a result, I continued treating other people as nothing.
"Then one day I came home from a walk in the garden and felt a little uncomfortable. I got a headache and fever. Slowly the fever increased. By night I was in bed. My body was shivering. My mother, who loved me, said, ‘My darling son, what can I do for you? I am helpless. Let me bring something.'
