It so happened once there was a disciple, the only thing he used to wear was 'langot' rest everything he had renounced. But His Master knew, though the disciple had renounced everything he was not dispassionate. He tried every technique to make the disciple dispassionate, but without any success.
Finally the Master said, I am now sending you to the King Janaka, only He can teach you this and if He fails then no one can teach you. Listening to this disciple got frustrated and said how can a King living in luxory teach about dispassion?
But still His Master persisted and he had to go.
By evening the disciple reached the palace, as he entered the palace he saw King Janaka sitting on His golden throne, which had diamond and precious stones embedded in it. The King Janaka was being entertained by royal dancers and musicians, delicious food was being served. Looking at this scene disciple got more frustrated and said to Janaka, my Master had sent me here to learn dispassion but now I see I am in wrong place. You yourself are so deeply rooted into all these pleasures and luxury, what will you teach me? Hence I wish to take leave.
As the disciple was leaving King Janaka requested him to wait till next morning as it was already dark and it was very dangerous to travel alone in jungle. Having no choice disciple waited. That night the disciple could not eat the food as he had already renounced delicious food. He could not sleep properly because he had renounced sleeping on comfortable bed, he could only sleep on hard floor.
At the dawn King Janaka invited the disciple for bath at the royal river flowing behind His palace. The disciple kept his spare 'langot' at the palace to change after having bath. As they were having bath the disciple saw that palace was on fire and immediately yelled King your palace is on fire, your whole property is being destroyed, all your wealth is turning into ashes! How will your survive in future? Run!
King Janaka was totally unmoved as He walked toward the palace to take corrective action, looked at the disciple, smiled and said 'Hum Khali Haath Aye The Aur Khali Haath Hi Jaayenge, Tum Itne Vichalit Kyun Ho Rahe Ho!' but the disciple could not wait to hear all this. He ran feverishly for his 'langot' that was kept at the palace!
That moment the disciple realized his foolishness, even after renouncing everything he lost his peace of mind just for his one 'langot' and on the other hand King Janaka being amidst of all the pleasures and luxury last night and now on verge of losing everything was unmoved, calm and peaceful; totally dispassionate!
Disciple fell at the feet’s of Janaka...
Dispassion does not mean renouncing the world, nor shunning the enjoyments of life. It simply means living in the present moment. Being free of regrets of past and worries of the future!
