Story

Contentment and Peace

Gautam Buddha was going through a forest towards a town. On the way he saw a cool stream where he washed his hands and feet and then, he sat under a tree in meditation.

The king of the town was going on horse back by the same way. As he was at war with other kings to enlarge his own kingdom, his heart was full of hatred, fear and jealousy. Seeing that a Sanyasi was sitting idle with closed eyes under a tree, he got down from the saddle and started shouting angrily at Buddha, “Oh Sanyasi, open your eyes and see who stands in front of you. Even a king like me do not sit idle. You Sanyasis feed yourselves on others labour and preach idleness to others as well.” Speaking in this tone, he went on pouring hot words of anger and abuse on Gautama till he himself felt tired and exhausted.

Gautama who was calm all the time slowly opened his eyes and with a smile, said to the King, “Sit down, my son. Surely you are tired and thirsty. May I fetch you cool water from that stream?”

The king was stunned by these soft and sweet words of love. He immediately felt that this Sanyasi must be the great Prince Siddhartha who had left the pleasures of the palace in search of peace and then become the Buddha or the Enlightened One. So, he fell at the Sanyasi’s feet and said, “Please forgive my great mistake. Tell me, how in spite of all your anger and abuse, you are so quiet and calm and even so loving towards me?”

“My son,” said Buddha, “Suppose you offer a plateful of sweets to another and he does not accept it, where does it go then?” Prompt came the answer from the king,

“Of course, it goes back to the giver.” “Then, don’t you see that I have not accepted a single word of all that you said. How then can those words affect me?”

The king now felt sure that this Sanyasi was none other than the Buddha himself. Bowing down, he said again, “Oh Enlightened One, please show me the way to real happiness.” The Buddha’s eyes gleamed with the light of the divine wisdom.

“My son,” he said, “anger, greed, jealousy, fear and all such passions rob man of all his happiness. Contentment, peace and love are the basis of true happiness in life. He who has no contentment and peace is a beggar. He who does not help and serve others with love an idler. He who always wears the crown of contentment, peace and love for all is the king of kings because he alone has found true happiness in life.”

The king gratefully prostrated before the Buddha and said, “ Accept me, Oh Buddha , as your disciple. From today, you are my master. Lead and I will follow.”

Song

Happiness

Happiness is something if you give it away,
You give it away, you give it away
Happiness is something if you give it away
Then it comes right back to you.
Oh it’s just like a magic penny
Hold on tight and you won’t get any
Lend it spend it, Give it away
Then it comes right back to you.
A hug is something if you give it away
You give it away, you give it away
A hug is something if you give it away
Then it comes right back to you
Oh it’s just like a magic penny
Hold on tight and you won’t get any
Lend it spend it, Give it away
Then it comes right back to you
Love is something if you give it away
You give it away, you give it away
Love is something if you give it away
Then it comes right back to you
Oh it’s just like a magic penny
Hold on tight and you won’t get any
Lend it spend it, Give it away
Then it comes right back to you
A smile is something if you give it away
You give it away, you give it away
A smile is something if you give it away
Then it comes right back to you
Oh it’s just like a magic penny
Hold on tight and you won’t get any
Lend it, spend it give it away
Then it comes right back to you