Stories are always a great way to convey messages. They are very helpful in explaining even the most advanced ideas like those of Spirituality in very simple terms.
There was this mighty rich man in a town. He could possibly have any of his wish fulfilled with his wealth. But he felt that he was still not happy with his life. People advised him to go to the saint in the town and said that he has ‘happiness’. The man got curious and went to see the monk who had camped on the outskirts of the town.
The saint was sitting calm under a tree and welcomed the rich man. He greeted the saint and put forth his concern about happiness in life. Saint said “Give me all your precious stones and jewellary and then I shall show you happiness”. The rich agreed and handed them over to the saint in a bag. An unexpected incident took place.
The saint grabbed the bag and fled. The rich man was perplexed. Is this man a saint or a robber? I have been fooled ! He began chasing the saint but in vain. Not being able to catch up with the saint, he finally gave up the chase. He returned to the tree in fatigue and deep sorrow. Another unexpected incident !
Surprise !! The monk is situated under the same tree with the same serene look with the bag of jewels besides him. The rich man went crazy with joy. He took out all his jewels, wore them and danced like a kid. Now the saint spoke “Moments ago the same jewels were with you. But only now you are overjoyed to have them. So do you understand what is happiness now?”
The rich man fell to the saint’s feet. He had realized. Happiness was not in those jewels. He felt sad and then happy only because of the attachment he had for those jewels. Due to that attachment, the external events that first separated him from the jewels and then again joined him with it could make him “sad” and then “happy”. He had understood that Happiness and Sorrow are only illusions that arise as a result of our attachment with matter.
We identify ourselves with our physical body so strongly that we totally believe that illusions of happines and sorrow of the body are directly on us. Spirituality tries to lift us from this slavery of matter but the choice is up to us.