Stories That Will Change Your Life

Are You A Blooming Idiot?

Once upon a time, there was a very wealthy king. He had a big kingdom, many queens, a lot of wealth and hundreds and thousands of followers and soldiers. Happiness never left his kingdom.

In ancient times, saints used to visit people to enlighten them about God and the goal of life. A saint came to the king's court, he wanted to enlighten the king, who was of course not at all interested.

The saint contemplated for a while and made a plan. "My dear king," he said, "you're so eager to wash my feet and bow down to me, but you're not interested in hearing about God. So, I have a request for you. If you fulfill that request, then you will please me."

The king immediately agreed and asked, "What can I do for you?"

"My dear king," the saint said, "send out your men throughout your kingdom and find out a foolish person. Call him to your court, hand over a stick to him and ask him to go around the city every single day for the rest of his life. It would be nice if you pay him some salary every month for this service."

The king obeyed the saint's order and got a person, who was fit to do the job. That person got a name Idiot.

Days, months, and years passed. The king spent all his time in material enjoyment and became old. In his old age, he became afflicted with a fatal disease.

When the king was on his deathbed, he called all his relatives, friends and near and dear ones. He met all them one by one. All were weeping as the king was very soon going to leave this world. In this way the king was meeting all his relatives one by one, in his mind, he had a feeling. "I have not met somebody whom I know very well."

Then, the face of Idiot came before his mind and he told his soldiers to summon Idiot.

Idiot came to see the king. The king told him, "Idiot, now I have to go to a very far off place. I'm taking leave of everyone, so I thought I may call you and talk to you."

Idiot immediately replied, "My king, since you're going to a distant place. Please, why don't you take me along with you?"

"Idiot!" the king snapped. "You cannot come with me. It's impossible."

"I see, now I understand the secret. You want to go with your queens. That is why you don't want to take me with you," Idiot said.

"Idiot! You're acting befitting to an idiot. My queens can't come with me, nor can I take my sons, nor any of my relatives. It's impossible."

"No worries. Whatever it is I'll arrange for a strong horse and a chariot for you so that you can go without efforts."

"I can't take even a single chariot and horses with me."

"That means you will walk all the way? Will your legs not pain? How long can you walk? My dear king, if it is your desire to walk, at least carry some eatables and some money, which you can use on the way. I will tell the minister to arrange for a big amount of money from the treasure."

"You're too stupid to understand. I can't carry a single gold coin with me. Although I have so much wealth amassed within my treasure, I can't carry anything with me. Why don't you understand?"

"My king, you can't carry your accumulated wealth. You can't take your wives and your children with you, nor can you take any property from your kingdom. It's a great wonder to me."

Then the king told idiot, "Enough of all your talks. Now, let me tell you something, listen up. You've done the service of an idiot, going around the city for so many years. So I would like to reward you. You should now retire from your job. You'll get the pension and you don't need to work anymore. But before you retire, find another fool like you and hand over this stick to him. Let him go around the city and he will also get a salary every month."

"Alright, my king, do I have to find a greater 'idiot' than I to hand over this stick?"

"Yes, that's right."

While tapping a finger on his chin, Idiot did think a bit. He took the stick and handed it over to the king, and said, "You're the blooming idiot. Please, keep this stick with you."

Every present people's eyes doubled in size with this audacious act. Even in his weak body, a spasm of anger sent roaring voice in king's throat. "You fool," he boomed, "how dare you give this stick to me. Do you mean I am a greater fool than you?"

Idiot laughed his head off and told the king, "Yes, my king, you're right. You indeed are a blooming idiot in this world. Do you know why? You told me that throughout your life you amassed wealth, conquered kings all around the world, married beautiful queens, begot so many children. Now it's you who accepted that you couldn't take any of them with you. What was the use of it all?"

Everyone got stunned with these words of Idiot, including King. Their eyes and ears were wide open.

When the king heard all this, a realization hit him like a ball. This "Idiot" was not actually a fool, but an elevated soul. The king fell at the feet of the so-called Idiot, cried and begged him to reveal his identity. "Please, tell me who you are? How come you know such deep spiritual truths? Please, tell me how can I become self-realized at this last hour of my life?"

A big slow motion smile manifested on Idiot's lips. "Actually, I'm a disciple of that great saint who had visited your court many years ago. At that time you didn't show any interest in knowing the higher truths of life. So my guru asked me to play this role so that I could deliver you at right time."

Then Idiot began to preach the king about higher truths of life: our relationship with Divine, soul, three modes of material nature, karma, and mantras.

The king heard every instruction given by Idiot. In this way, he learned to perfect his life before dying.