Bondage and Freedom

Author(s): Chitrabhanu
Publisher: Divine Knowledge Society

Page 52

The king who was on horseback thought to himself that he was not comfortable. So he stopped the horse and ordered his men to bring an elephant. When the elephant was brought to him, his servant said, “Your Majesty, the elephant is ready for you." So the king dismounted and sat on the elephant. After a little while the king got tired of the elephant ride and said, "I am not comfortable on the elephant, bring me a palanquin.” A palanquin was brought for the king and he sat in it. Having arrived at the camp the king went straight into the tent and lay stretched on the soft carpet; and at once someone came to knead his legs, someone to massage his body.
The two women walking past the camp saw everything. They thought, “What is all this? First the king sat on a horse, then on an elephant and then in a palanquin and now he has stretched himself on the carpet-where did the tiredness come from? Why is he being massaged and kneaded?” So one of the women asked her companion the reason for all this fuss.
The other ręplied: "In the last incarnation this king must have slept on the road and perhaps even meditated and must have travelled all the time on his own two feet. So he is taking it out in this life and getting his legs and body massaged and kneaded."
What we have received in this life is not solely due to our skill, intelligence, ability or wisdom; but because of our past good deeds and charity.
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