Many many years ago, Emperor Alexandra the Great was travelling towards India on his favourite horse, Busiphallus.
It was such a splendid and glorious event that everyone rushed to catch a glimpse of it.
Except one.
By the side of the road where the entourage marched, was a man clad in yellow, who slept through the whole commotion.
The emperor's attention was immediately turned to this one man who was unperturbed by the emperor's triumphant march.
Curious, The emperor rode up to the man.
When the emperor came near, that man calmly got up and sat down cross-legged.
The emperor asked, "Do you know who I am?"
The robed person replied, "No, I do not know you."
"I am Emperor Alexandra the Great," said the emperor.
The robed person calmly replied, "All right, What about it?"
"I possess all the land from Macedonia to India." said The Emperor.
The robed person asnwered, "So?"
"I am the lord of 9 great rivers in the land from Macedonia to India. All the fields, orchards and houses on this vast area of land belong to me."
The robed person said, "Emperor, may I ask a question or two?"
The emperor replied, "Yes, go on."
"Emperor, do you get hungry sometimes?" the robed person asked gently.
The emperor answered, "Why, yes of course!"
"When you are hungry, do you eat all the produce of the fields, orchards and lands you own?" he questioned.
The emperor replied, "No, of course not! I eat only a little food."
"Emperor, do you feel thirsty sometimes?" the robed person continued.
"Certainly!" the emperor replied.
"Do you then drink all the water in all the rivers you own when you are thirsty?" the robed person prodded.
"No, I only drink a little, enough to quench my thirst." was the emperor reply.
"Do you feel sleepy at times?" the robed person went on.
The emperor answered. "Yes, of course!"
"When you are sleepy, do you sleep on all the land from Macedonia to India?" the robed person queried.
The emperor replied, "No, of course not!"
To that, the Venerable finally asked, "Emperor, then what on earth is the meaning of all the material gains you have acquired?!"
"Better than absolute sovereignty over the earth,
Better than going to heaven,
Better than even lordship over all the worlds is the Fruit of a Stream-Winner. (First realisation of Nibbana)"
- The Buddha
"You can win all the battles,
You can win all the wars.
But there's no real victory until you conquer yourself."
- The Buddha
"Spiritual wealth is more important than physical/material wealth."
