The king and the poor man

One day, while the king sat upon his throne, a poor man came through the great hall. His skin was rough, his ribs showed through his flesh, and little to nothing that belonged to him.

He stood before the king.

The king, already knowing the desires of the poor man's heart, spoke first.

"I know what you seek," said the king.

"Gold. Silver. Fame. Abundance of food. Women. Perhaps a house upon a hill, a mansion, more riches, more power, more women. All can be added unto you if you ask, and it shall be given."

With a great laugh, the king finished his words and waited for the poor man to speak.

Slowly, the poor man crept closer.

"Why must I suffer all these afflictions?" he asked.

"For generations my bloodline has been labelled poor. What sins have I committed, or my fathers before me or their seed or their fathers before them that all I have known is suffering? Why are you given such high esteem even though same in the flesh, not even the sweat from your skin would you give me to drink? By what power do you rule over me? By what authority?"

The king was silent.

The poor man continued.

"You could ask for all that you have offered me, but that is not what I seek and it wouldn't be enough. I desire the truth. I desire knowledge and understanding of my grief, my trials, and my sorrows. How can I forget my pain when I do not even know why it was given to me? I wish not to just suffer the fate of my brothers and sisters without even knowing why like they did, Do not silence me with what is temporary. I wish to be free - not only from suffering, but from ignorance, yes I could be free externally from my suffering but internally I want to be freed more, that I may find meaning in all my suffering and hopefully rejoice in my discovery."

"Will you grant me such a thing of great king?"

The king was shaken.

He did not know what to say.

Never before had someone asked for something he could not give.

"Why would he ask such a question?" the king thought.

"Does he not desire anything that I could give him?"

"So odd is this man I cannot have people going around asking such repugnant questions,"all this the king said to himself.

"I have offered you riches, fame, women, abundance of food and all you can desire and you reduced my gratitude to a meaningless question, away with you for this!"

"You shall be punished greatly."

"Take him," he commanded his guards.

The poor man was dragged from the hall.

"Why? Asked the poor man. What did I say to offend you for all I asked was far more meaningful to me than all you have offered me and wouldn't it be less significant for you that having to give me to answer one question?"

Nothing did the king say but watch as his guards took the man away.

From that day forward, the king no longer asked what his people wanted.

He simply gave them what he thought was best - in whatever portion and measure he desired.