During the time of Mahavira there lived a conquering king. He knew only the language of war. This king conquered everything that was worthy of conquest, and became the richest man in the country. And then someone told him that all worldly possessions are useless unless the inner kingdom is conquered:
“If you do not achieve dhyana, samadhi, if you do not achieve inner ecstasy, all this will be useless.
The king asked:
-Where can I get this kingdom? Just show me the place. I will conquer it.
Someone told him:
“Mahavira stopped just nearby in the forest. Go to him. He has already reached.
And the king and his army went into the forest. He surrounded him, then approached Mahavira and said:
“I have come to conquer the kingdom that you have already achieved, the kingdom of inner ecstasy.”
Mahavira laughed. He said:
- Your wish is good. But you seem to have absolutely no idea what you are asking. It cannot be conquered by you. I have it here, but I cannot give it to you. And you can't conquer it.
The king said:
- Don't worry about it. Just show me where it is. I have not met anything that could not be conquered.
Mahavira felt deep compassion in his heart for this man. He said:
- Do one thing. There is no need to come to me. There is a poor man in your own capital, and he may be willing to bargain with you. He also achieved it. Go to him.
The king had never heard the name of this poor man, but went to him. He, indeed, was a beggar, but with the same light in his eyes as Mahavira, and with the same aroma around him - with the same innocence. He was sitting under a tree. The king said:
- You are part of my kingdom. Give me everything you have achieved! I am ready to give you whatever you want in return. Even if you want my kingdom, I will give it to you. But bring it, give me your samadhi.
The man laughed:
- I can give you my life. It is in your hands, but I cannot give you samadhi. It’s not that I don’t want to give it to you, but the very nature of samadhi is such that it cannot be given away. You have to earn it.
The king said:
“But I never earned anything.” I am a conqueror. I conquer everything I need.
“But neither your sword nor your army will help here,” said the beggar. - You need to go here alone. After all, this is the way inside, you must go to your own center. Samadhi cannot be given because you already have it. It must only be known, open.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru