An Indian Folklore
Once lived a proud King. The King one day decided to go on a pilgrimage.
Late one afternoon he camped in a village close to a forest. He heard that in that forest lived a Sage for whom the local people had great respect. What was intriguing, the Sage was once a prince who had renounced his position and had become a Sage.
The King got curious and set off with his companions to meet the Sage. The Sage was sitting in front of his hut. The King came near him, bowed down and was about to touch the Sage’s feet to show his respect and devotion.
The Sage got up and took a step back and said, “Please stop! Why do you wish to touch my feet?”
The King, who was not in the habit of answering questions, hesitated for a few seconds and said, “Sage, I bow down to you for the great sacrifice you have made – of wealth and happiness. You have renounced everything!”
The Sage smiled and said, “In that case, Your Highness, I should bow down to you!”
The King felt quite flattered. He had no doubt donated for maintenance of holy places and had done some charities. Probably the Sage was referring to such philanthropy of his!
However, for the sake of modesty, he said, “Why? What have I done that you should bow down to me?”
The Sage replied, “I will tell you what you have renounced, but not before your companions. Do you mind coming into my hut?”
The King, happy and curious, followed the Sage into his hut.
Once inside the hut, the Sage said “O King, think about a situation in which two persons have two nice rooms. Inside the rooms there are gold and diamond scattered amidst filth. One throws the filth off his room and retains the gold and the diamond. The other throws the gold and diamond off his room and retains the filth. Who had made a sacrifice?”
The King replied: “The one who has thrown the gold and diamond and retained the filth.”
The Sage smiled and said, “Now do you realize who between us has renounced? You have thrown away the wealth of spiritual bliss for sake of the filth that is your vanity, wealth and power. I have thrown away the filth to retain the true wealth and true happiness. Must you say that I have renounced? Is it not you who had renounced?”
The King hobbled out of the hut speechless.
Here in the story the real message is about inner renunciation and not so much about leaving everything materialistic and going to the forest. Rather the story is about throwing away the pride and attachment of one’s identity with materialistic possession. It is about detaching oneself with fleeting emotions and thoughts and surrendering oneself to the Divine because only surrender can bring true joy and real wealth of wisdom.