The King

Samarita Blaggan, 01.06.05

Many a year ago there lived a wealthy, infamous King. One day he decided to go for a walk in the fields. During the time of his travels, a poor young boy was passing by. On walking, the boy felt hungry and in view he could see a tree from which juicy fruit hung. The boy approached the tree-trunk and attempted to get the fruit to fall from the tree by throwing stones at the branches. After several tries, the boy thought he would be more successful if he applied more force. He picked up a stone and with great strength aiming for the fruit, he threw it. The stone missed the tree and hit the King who was walking nearby. The boy ran in fear as the King loudly questioned, ‘who hit me? Who was it that hit me with this stone?’ On hearing the screams of the King, many of the King’s followers gathered. Agreeing they would find this insolent child, they scattered in preparation for the search. The poor boy was soon found and on reaching the King, the helpers demanded that the boy should be punished; after all he had hurt the richest ruler of them all.

 

The King thought for a moment. Then he questioned the little child, ‘why did you throw the stone at me?’ The child replied, ‘I didn’t throw it at you Sir. I am hungry and was merely trying to get the sweet fruit to fall from the tree.’ The followers continued to curse the boy who had dared to harm the King. The King, however, took the boy into his lap and insisted he should be rewarded; all the fruits and riches he desired should be brought to him. The followers were baffled.

 

The King explained the child’s action was done with sincerity; he had no intensions of harming anyone and therefore has no reason to be punished. The King continued to express that the tree was hit many times yet it did not complain. We as humans abuse our God given assets by uttering spiteful and upsetting words, without thinking we physically and emotionally wound others. We are intolerant of others and judge them without giving it a second thought.

 

The moral of the story is we should learn to love all of the Master’s creations and not look for ways of hurting them. A tree, which lives on the same earth as us, provides shelter and food for all. It does not judge by one’s status or appearance. It does not shoo away the poor and cater for the wealthy. It shows love and respect for all. Satguru Baba Hardev  Ji once stated in his holy discourse that ‘If you are always judging others, there will be no time to love others’. We should learn to foster love and spread it. After all people will forget what you said, they will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel. As it has been written, ‘Love is life and if you miss love, you miss life’. Furthermore, Paulo Coelho said, ‘Love is the force that transforms and improves the soul of the World.’