The Determined Young Princess

There was a young princess in India, still in her teens. She had a great love of freedom but the royal family would not allow her to meditate. They said that it was not the right way to live in a royal palace and that she had to live the royal life of a queen. The princess’s mind was very serene and peaceful but she had no one to turn to for guidance. In the palace there was the king and all his relations. However, there was no one who could be a guide for her, or a friend.

One day she heard of a wise man whose advice she could seek. She quickly wrote a letter and gave it to a runner to deliver. She wrote in the letter, “My dear father, I do not know which behavior will be better for me. The palace people threaten me, saying that I have to live in such-and-such a mold to suit the palace. But this behavior doesn’t suit me. I want to meditate. I have to win freedom in this life. But these people threaten me and give me trouble. Please advise me what to do.”

The reply came back. “Shun everyone, whosoever they may be, maybe near and dear to you — husband, relations, parents, whosoever. Walk out.” That was what he wrote. Then he quoted different stories of a son disobeying his father, a wife disobeying her husband, all to find freedom. He gave many examples.

After reading this reply, the princess walked away from the palace and is still remembered today.

Who has ever pleased the world? If you have won freedom, perhaps, everyone will be happy with you. We still remember people who lived a life of freedom, even thousands of years ago. We don’t remember our relations. We forget even those who have been dead for ten or twenty years. A person who worked for himself and won enlightenment and gave advice to others is still alive and remembered.