The best spiritual story I have ever heard

The most important questions to ask yourself.

Once, there lived a king who had everything he wished for. But one fine day, three questions crossed his mind:

What is the most important time?
Who is the most important person?
What is the most important thing to do?

These questions made him restless. To find the answers, he went to his ministers and asked them the questions. The ministers replied, "Oh, Your Holiness, the most important time is when you became king." To the second question, they said, "You are the most important person because you are the king." And for the third question, they advised, "The most important thing to do is to expand your kingdom."

However, the king was not satisfied with these answers. Seeing this, the chief minister grew worried, as he feared for his position. He suggested the king visit a wise sage who lived on a mountain at the edge of the kingdom, believing only the sage could answer such deep questions.

The next day, the king set off with twenty soldiers, arriving at the mountain by dusk. He thought it would be inappropriate to approach the sage with so many soldiers, so he ordered them to stay behind and began climbing the mountain alone. The journey exhausted him, but he eventually reached the cave where the sage was meditating. He waited for the sage to finish, but even after three long hours, the sage remained in meditation. The king decided to stay the night and ask his questions in the morning. He put down his turban and sword and fell asleep.

The next morning, the king awoke to sunlight streaming into the cave, accompanied by the sound of birdsong and fresh air. But when he rubbed his eyes, he realized the sage was gone. Stepping outside, he walked to the edge of the cliff and was amazed by the sight of his entire kingdom. A huge smile spread across his face. In his palace, mornings were so different, filled with bad news, ministers, and spies reporting problems, constant tension. But here, standing at the cliff's edge, he felt a deep connection, realizing that this was why he was king: to serve his people.

Just then, he felt a pat on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw the sage, holding the king's sword and looking deeply into his eyes. The sage asked, "King, tell me: What is the most important time? Who is the most important person? What is the most important thing to do?" These questions hit the king, and a twinkle appeared in his eyes. The sage recognized that the king had understood the answers. He lowered the sword and said, "Now, you can return and rule your kingdom."

That's the story!

Now, you might be wondering: where are the answers? You should deeply reflect on these questions. If you were the king, standing on that cliff with a sword pointed at you, what would you say?

1. What is the most important time?

All concepts of time, past and future, dissolve in the moment. There is only the now. When the king saw the sword pointed at him, all thoughts vanished. So, the most important time is the present. Everything else is just a story, and the quality of our life is the quality of that story.

2. Who is the most important person?

Some might jokingly say, "The person pointing the sword," or others might say, "Yourself." And both are correct. The most important person is the one you are with at that moment. Often, when we're with someone, we are preoccupied with our own thoughts. When we're alone, we think about others. So, the most important person is whoever you are with in that moment. If you're alone, then you are the most important person.

3. What is the most important thing to do?

Before the sage arrived, the king felt a deep love and care for his kingdom. The most important thing to do is to love and care, to be kind. Even the Dalai Lama once said, "My religion is kindness." So, the most important thing is to show kindness and care for the people in your life.

Live in the present, give your full attention to the person you're with, and be kind and caring. That's all that's needed in life.