Alexander The Great - A slave of Anger

 

After plundering India, when Alexander The Great was about to return to his country, he remembered that his
people had asked him to bring to them an Indian yogi. They had heard
a lot about yogis and were very desirous of seeing one, meeting him,
hearing him speak and receiving his blessings. Alexander was told
that the yogis dwelt in the forest.

In quest of a yogi he went to a forest. Sure enough, he found one
sitting underneath a tree, in deep meditation. He waited patiently
until the yogi opened his eyes. They shone with a strange, mystic
light.

Reverentially, Alexander requested the yogi to accompany him to Greece,
saying. “I will give you everything you need or ask for. But, pray,
do come with me. My people would love to meet you!”

The yogi quietly answered, “I need nothing, I am happy where I am!”

This was the first time that anyone had turned down Alexander’s
request. He could not control himself. He flew into a rage.

And unsheathing his sword, he thundered, “Do you know who is speaking
to you? I am the great king Alexander. If you will not listen to me,
I shall kill you – cut you into pieces!”

Unperturbed, the yogi answered. “You cannot kill me! You can only
kill my body. And the body is but a garment I have worn. I am not the
body. I am that which dwells within the body! I am not the deha. I am
the dehin – the in dwelling one!”

The yogi continued, “You say you are a king. May I tell you, who you
are? You are a slave of my slave!”

Stunned. Alexander asked. “How am I a slave of your slave?”

In a voice tender with compassion, the yogi explained. “I have
mastered anger. Anger is my slave. See, how easily you gave way to
anger. You are a slave of anger, and, therefore, a slave of my
slave!”