Page 41 - 102717-James Allen-Byways to Blessedness-flipbookversion_Neat

BYWAYS TO BLESSEDNESS 37

The giving up — the total uprooting — of vanity and pride is a great task; but it is a blessed
task, and it can be accomplished by constant practice in non-resentment and by meditating upon
one’s thoughts and actions so as to understand and purify them; and the spirit of forgiveness is
perfected in one in the measure that pride and vanity are overcome and abandoned.
The not-taking-offence and the not-giving-offence go together. When a man ceases to resent
the actions of others he is already acting kindly towards them, considering them before himself or
his own defence. Such a man will be gently in what he says and does, will arouse love and kindness
in others, and not stir them up to ill-will and strife. He will also be free from all fear concerning the
actions of others towards him, for he who hurts none fears none. But the unforgiving man, he who
is eager to “pay back” some real or imaginary slight or injury, will not be considerate towards
others, for he considers himself first, and is continually making enemies; he also loves in the fear

of others, thinking that that they are trying to do towards him as he is doing towards them. He
who contrives the hurt of others fears others.
That is a beautiful story of Prince Dhirgayu which was told by an ancient Indian teacher to his
disciples in order to impress them with the truth of the ublime percept that “hatred ceases not by
hatred at any time; hatred ceases by not-hatred.” The story is as follows:- Brahmadatta, a powerful
king of Benares, made war upon Dirgheti, the king of Kosala, in order to annex his kingdom, which
was much smaller than his own. Dirgheti, seeing that it was impossible for him to resist the
greater power of bramhadatta, fled, and left his kingdom in his enemy’s hands. For some time he
wandered from place to place in disguise, and at last settled down with his queen in an artisan’s
cottage; and the queen gave birth to a son, whom they called Dirghayu.
Now, King Brahmadatta was anxious to discover the hiding-place of Dirgheti, in order to put to
death the conquered king, for he thought, “Seeing that I have deprived him of his kingdom he may
someday treacherously kill me If I do not kill him.”
But many years passed away, and Dirgheti devoted himself to the education of his son,. who by
diligent application, became learned and skillful and wise.
And after a time Dirgheti’s secret became known, and he, fearing that brahmadatta would
discover him and slay all three, and thinking more of the life of his son than his own, sent away the
prince. Soon after the exile king fell into the hands of Brahmadatta, and was, along with his queen,
executed.
Now Brahmadatta thought: I have got rid of Dirgheti and his queen, but their son , Prince
Dirghayu, lives, and he will be sure to contrive some means of effecting my assassination; yet he is
unknown to any, and I have no means of discovering him.” So the king lived in great fear and
continual distress of mind.
Soon after the execution of his parents, Dirghayu, under an assumed name, sought
employment in the king’s stables, and was engaged by the master of elephants.
Dirghayu quickly endeared himself to all, and his superior abilities came at last under the
notice of the king, who had the young man brought before him, and was so charmed with him that
he employed him in his own castle, and he proved to be so able and diligent that the king shortly
placed him in a position of great trust under himself.