In situation of sadness, of anger, of happiness just remember:
This too will pass...
and suddenly a great silence descends on you
which can open you to what will never pass.
"...There is a very old sufi story. A king called his wise men and said, 'I would like some advice from you. In just one simple sentence, give me a sutra which can be used in all situations of life, and which is to solve all the problems of life -- a masterkey.' The wise men were very much afraid. What to do? They couldn't begin to think about it. How to make just one small maxim which is going to solve everything? They asked for time. The king waited months and then said, 'What are you doing? Bring that advice!' In this time they had been searching for somebody who could help, and they found a sufi master. The sufi master told them, 'No need to say anything. This is the advice.' He wrote it on a piece of paper, put it in a locket, and gave it to the wise men. He told them to give it to the king and to tell him not to open it unless he felt it was absolutely necessary. 'If it is not absolutely necessary, if he can tackle it by some other means, then don't use it. This is a masterkey. It is very valuable. Don't use it on ordinary locks which can be opened by other means.' The king was very happy. He waited for an opportunity but it never came. He waited and waited, but whatsoever problems came, he would think, 'This is not absolutely necessary. I can tackle it.' And as time passed, he could tackle it. He became very curious about the locket. What advice was there? But he had made a promise. He had promised that he would not open it unless it was an almost life-and-death problem. Then came the time. A neighbouring kingdom defeated him. He escaped into the forest, into the hills, with the enemy following. He could hear their footsteps of the horses coming closer and closer and closer. He came to a precipice -- now there was no go. He could not go back and the enemy was coming. They would be there within seconds. And he would die if he jumped. Now was the moment. He couldn't find any solution, so he opened the locket. There was a simple sentence: 'This too will pass.' Just this much was written on it. He said, 'What type of person is that old man, befooling me? There is nothing in it, and I was thinking that it was a great secret -- This too will pass.' But it happened that while he was reading it, suddenly he became aware that the horses seemed to be going further away, not coming closer. They had missed the path -- and they went away. He folded the paper and put it back into the locket. After two days he was saved by his friends, and they recaptured their kingdom. There was great jubilation and ceremony and he was received in the capital. Flowers were being thrown and the whole path was decorated with flowers. The king became so happy, so exalted -- as if he would burst with happiness. Suddenly he felt again that he was in danger. The happiness was too much. He looked at the sutra again, the same sutra: This too will pass. When he came to his palace he enquired who had given this advice. He went to the sufi master and became an initiate; he dropped his kingdom. He said, 'The man who has given such great advice is the. man to be followed. I surrender myself to you. I have understood. Everything is going to pass -- even this life is going to pass -- so I have come in search of that which is not going to pass. Show me that..." Osho
|
