What is happiness

[Guest guest]

Long, long ago, in the misty days of yore, there lived a powerful king

called Veeraditya. This king had a kingdom so huge that if a horse rider

started riding from one end of his kingdom without stopping, after four

score and six days, he would not have reached even midway in the kingdom. (I

know that we still have roads like that and also riders, but that is beside

the point.)

The kingdom of this king was a wonderfully fertile place where abundant

crops flourished. His capital was a famous trading place where all

neighbours came in huge numbers to trade.

The king, naturally, collected taxes from all of this and his coffers were

overflowing with gold. He had five beautiful wives who bore him seven strong

sons and five cute daughters.

Thus, if there was one man on earth who had every right to be happy, it was

King Veeraditya. However, Veeraditya was definitely not happy. Every night

he would twist and turn in his bed and not get proper sleep.

The royal Baidyanath gave him a few herbs and potions but to no avail. The

King asked his courtiers if anyone knew where he could obtain happiness. A

few thought about the happy moments that they had spent at Champabai's

kotha, but prudently decided that this was not the answer that the King was

expecting.

Ultimately, his Vazir told the King that he had heard of a very wise man in

the deep forests to the North. Maybe, the King would get his answer there.

The King was excited. Promptly, at daybreak the next day, the King, along

with a few companions, rode off to the North in search of the wise man who

could help him solve the riddle of happiness.

After riding through a very difficult terrain, and after much searching, the

King ultimately found a pocket of nature in the midst of the deep forest,

which was like heaven. The trees were green and swayed gently, affording

cool shade. Birds chirped in their sweet voices. There was a chattering

brook nearby and right in the middle of this Utopia was a simple hut.

The King approached the hut. Some musical chants could be heard coming from

the interior. As the door was low, the King had to bend down to enter the

hut. There, in the hut, was a wizened old man sitting on a straw mat

praying.

The King reverently bowed before this wise old man and sat in front of him

until his prayer was over. The old man opened his eyes and on seeing the

King smiled and asked him, " What is it my son? What brings you to my humble

abode? "

The King quickly bowed again and said, " Oh wise man. I am the king of all

this land and more. "

The wise old man nodded.

The King said, " In fact I have come to ask you a small favour. I have heard

a lot about you. Please tell me what is happiness and how I can obtain it. "

The old man smiled and said, " Yes! A very important question. In fact, more

important than whether God exists. " He stroked his white beard for a while

then asked, " Tell me, are you rich? "

The King laughed. " Rich? I have so much money that I don't know what to do

with it. But I am constantly worried that some neighbouring king will invade

me and take away my wealth. "

The old man nodded, " Do you have a good wife? "

" Oh wise man, I have not one but five very beautiful wives. But when I am

engaged in my royal duties, I constantly worry about them. I wonder if some

courtier or knight may be seducing one of them. Sometimes, having five wives

is a physical burden to me, so I keep wondering if they satisfy themselves

elsewhere, when I am a wee bit tired. "

" Hmm. Do you have children? "

" Of course. I have seven strong boys, but I keep worrying if one of them

will grow up and kill me to get my land. I also have five gorgeous

daughters. However, I can't help wondering if they might one day run away

with some undesirable boy. "

" Okay! So you have everything except happiness. " The old man thought for a

moment, then nodding his head sagely he said, " Come with me outside. "

Both of them stepped out in the clearing in front of the hut. There a cow

was suckling her young calf. The old man said, " Look, oh King. Can you see

the look of supreme happiness on this cow's face? She is not getting

anything. She is in fact giving her milk to her young, yet that act is

causing her so much happiness. "

The King looked and indeed the cow looked so peaceful and happy.

" So you see, dear King, it is not how much you have that makes you happy,

but how much you give. Thus, no rich nor poor man can ever be happy unless

he learns to give. You are proud that you have such a lot of riches. But if

you use that money to help build homes for the poor, bunds for the farmers,

you will find that you will worry less about your money and enjoy the giving

and using of it. If instead of looking at your children with suspicion, you

give them precious time. You become their friend and share their joys and

sorrows. Then you will be a much happier person. If you spare time for your

wives together and separately, then you will find that soon you will say

that it does not matter if they talk and joke with some courtier. "

The King stared at the old man in awe. The old man continued, " The root of

all unhappiness is desire. The more you desire, the less happy you will be.

Learn to give more and desire less. That is the only true happiness you will

ever have. "

With that the old man blessed the King and returned to his meditation. The

King returned a much enlightened man.

Kishore Shah 1974