Mahavira's Joke

There is a story of a king coming to Mahavira, an Indian master of meditation, to purchase meditation. It looks like a simple story. Of course, meditation is not for sale! Consequently it is I who is responsible...

Meditation cannot be given

A man came to Mahavir, a king. His name was Presenjit; a very famous king of those days. He asked Mahavir, "Give me what you call meditation, give it to me! I am ready to pay for it. Whatsoever the price."

A worldly man -- only knows how to purchase a thing, thinks of everything as if it can be purchased. He comes to Mahavir and asks such a stupid question. Mahavir must have laughed. He said, "Listen. Why did you trouble to come so far into this forest? In your own capital there is a man -- my disciple he is, a very poor man -- and he would very much like to sell his meditation. He is so poor. Just go to him! I don't need what you can give to me, so I am not in any mood to sell my meditation to you. Go and purchase it from a very poor man. He may decide to sell it."

It was a joke. Presenjit rushed in his chariot, went to the poor man's hut. It was such a poor hut that he thought, "Certainly this man will sell. I can even purchase this man -- what about the meditation!"

I give you any price!

The man came, a very poor man, almost naked, but utterly beautiful and graceful, a great light within his being -- you could see it. And the king felt, "Mahavir is right -- this man has got it. Look at his face -- so luminous!" And he said, "just tell me what you want. I have come to purchase your meditation, your samadhi. And I am ready to give anything you ask."

The man hesitated. What to say to the king? And the king thought, obviously, "He is hesitating about the price." So he said, "Don't be worried. You can say amy amount." But the man said, "It is not a question of price." The king said, "Don't be worried about it at all. I can give my whole kingdom to you, because when once I decide to purchase a thing, I always purchase it. Just say!"

But the man said, "I am sorry to say... I don't want to say no to you, but what are you asking? It is absurd! I cannot sell it. It is not a thing. It is not anything objective. It has happened to me. Mahavir must have played a joke with you. You go back to the Master. He has simply sent you here so that you can understand that even if you give your kingdom to a poor beggar, he cannot sell his meditation or samadhi. There is no way to purchase it. It is invaluable. And it is not a commodity at all."

But people go on thinking godliness is a commodity, samadhi is a commodity, enlightenment is a commodity: "Give us.. .!" It is not! You have to become it. You have to be transformed.

Osho, excerpt from The Perfect Master #5

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Osho book recommendations on masters of meditation

The Buddha Said...: Meeting the Challenge of Life's Difficulties

Discover the Buddha: 53 Meditations to Meet the Buddha Within

A Cup of Tea

When the Shoe Fits: Stories of the Taoist Mystic Chuang Tzu

No Water No Moon: Talks on Zen Stories

The Mustard Seed: The Revolutionary Teachings of Jesus

Unio Mystica

Meditations on Sufism by Osho

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