From a very ancient Chinese story: There was an emperor who had only one son. That son was now on his deathbed. The physicians had all but given up saying we cannot do anything to save him. He will not survive. It is not possible to save him. There was no cure for his disease. It was a matter of just one or two days, that he would die at any moment. The father stayed awake all night sitting at his son’s bedside. It was time to say good-bye. Tears were flowing from his eyes. Sitting and sitting, he sat nearby his son. At about three o’clock in the morning, the father too began to doze off to sleep.
While he slept, he had a dream that he was a great lord ruling over a great empire. He had twelve sons – all were very handsome, young, talented, intelligent, excellent fighters, and brave warriors! There was no one comparable inside the whole world. He also had a vast horde of wealth that was unlimited. He was a true world ruler – his rule extending over the whole earth. He saw this dream while his son breathed his last breath. His wife screamed and started crying, when she saw her son’s dead body. The emperor opened his eyes from his sleep-filled dream and was completely shocked. He sat there by his son’s bedside. He was truly dumbfounded, because just a moment before there was another kingdom, with twelve sons and vast great wealth – and it was all gone now. As here his only son had died! He remained completely lost for a long time to follow.
His wife worried whether his mind was damaged, because he had so much great affection for his son, and yet, not a single tear came from his eyes. When the son was living, he had often cried over him. But now that the son had died, this father was not crying? His wife shook him and said, “What happened to you? Why don’t you ever cry?” He said,” Who should I cry for? There were twelve, they died. There was a great empire, it has now gone. Should I cry for them or should I cry for this one? I am thinking who should I cry for? Just as twelve are gone, thirteen are gone.
” Everything is finished” he said.” That was a dream, and this too, is also a dream. When I was seeing that dream, I had completely forgotten this son. This kingdom… everything was forgotten. When that dream broke, I remembered you. Tonight, I will sleep and again I will forget you. So, it all comes and goes, now it is, now it is not: and now both dreams are gone. Now, I have awakened from dreaming. Now, I won’t be roaming about in dreams. It is enough, the time has come. The fruit has ripened, it is time for it to fall!” ~ Osho ~
© Love Love Love Bliss
Avadhooth Guruji 