The King and the Saint: A Lesson in Humility

Once a king asked his ministers, "I do everything for my subjects. I provide them with food, employment, arrange for their daughters' marriages, provide security, I do everything. Then why do these people perform aarti for God? Why don't they worship me? What other work is there that only God can do that I can't? Tell me about God's work."

The ministers replied, "Your Majesty, only a saint can answer this question; only they have direct contact with God." The king said, "Then go and bring a saint to the court who can answer my question."

A search for saints was conducted throughout the kingdom. On the border of the kingdom, there was a hut belonging to a learned saint. The ministers went and asked the saint the answer to the king's question. The saint said, "I will personally come to the court tomorrow and answer the king." The ministers returned and informed the king that the saint would personally visit the court tomorrow and answer his question.

The next day, Mahatma ji reached the court and on seeing the king, he raised his hands (salutations) three times as is a decorum (rule) of the royal court. The king asked Mahatma ji his question. Mahatma ji said, O King, I can answer your question, but you don't know how to ask. The king asked what do you mean. Mahatma ji said, it means that the one from whom knowledge is taken is the Guru, and the Guru is always placed on a high seat.

But here you yourself are sitting on a high seat.  "First give me your seat." The king was lost in thought. "What if the Mahatma didn't get off his seat?" But after being persuaded by his ministers, the king gave his seat to the Mahatma. The king said, "Now tell me, Guruji." The Mahatma said, "First take off this crown of ego and become empty, only then will you gain knowledge." The king took off his crown and gave it to the Mahatma. The king said, "Now tell me."

The Mahatma said, "First pay your respects to the Guru." The king raised his hands and bowed to the Mahatma three times. The king said, "Now tell me." The Mahatma said, "Is there still something left to tell you? Haven't you understood yet?" The king asked, "What do you mean?" The Mahatma said, "Look, two minutes ago I came to your court. You were sitting on a high throne, the crown was on your head, and I was standing below you, raising my hands, and saluting you."

But now, exactly two minutes later, I am sitting on the throne, the crown is on my head, and you are standing below and saluting me. This is what God does. In an instant, he can turn a king into a pauper and a pauper into a king."  Only God can do this work, not you!

Read more : -  The Unflying Bird