Bondage and Freedom

Author(s): Chitrabhanu
Publisher: Divine Knowledge Society

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In the meantime Koshalraj was leading a poor but contented life in the woods. He would chop wood and go out to sell it. With the few coins that he so earned, he would buy his frugal meal. But he and his wife were happy. in their poverty and solitude. All around them nature was at its best; there were green trees, and babbling brooks and singing birds. The deer came to their humble hut to be fed with crumbs. What more could they want? They were happy because they were contented. But if you look about you, you will find that people who have plenty are unhappy. They want more, and still more. They crave the things that they do not possess and to acquire them they do not hesitate to cheat any one-be it their friends, their neighbours, their country or even their God! Their possessions may perhaps increase but does that really make them happier? I think not. Happiness is a state of the mind-it does not depend on your wealth. That is why the king and his queen were happy even though they had given up everything.
One day as the two of them sat talking about their subjects, wondering how they were being treated, a woodcutter, tired and hungry after his day's labour came to their door. They welcomed him and invited him to share their humble meal. Even in their poverty, they had not forgotten their courtesy and hospitality to a stranger.
As they sat chatting after the meal, the stranger told them about the proclamation of Kashiraj. There
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