Saturday, April 21, 2012
Live life as intensely and totally as possible-Diogenes and Alexander
Do you like this story?
If you want to be happy, be. ----------Leo Tolstoy
When Alexander the Great was coming to India he went to
meet a fakir named Diogenes. Diogenes used to live naked and did not even keep
a begging bowl; he had one but threw away one day when he saw a dog drinking
water from the river saying, “I must be mad! Why I am carrying this bowl with
me? This dog is more sensible than me. If he can do without bowl then why can’t
I.” He used to live in ecstasy.
meet a fakir named Diogenes. Diogenes used to live naked and did not even keep
a begging bowl; he had one but threw away one day when he saw a dog drinking
water from the river saying, “I must be mad! Why I am carrying this bowl with
me? This dog is more sensible than me. If he can do without bowl then why can’t
I.” He used to live in ecstasy.
Diogenes was lying down on the sand of river taking a
sunbath. He stayed lying down and did not even get up and sit. When he saw
Alexander said,
sunbath. He stayed lying down and did not even get up and sit. When he saw
Alexander said,
"I
am on my way to conquer the whole world, after that I am going to relax, just
like you."
Diogenes laughed and he said, "If after conquering the whole world you are
just going to relax like me, why not relax right now? Is conquering the whole
world a precondition for relaxation? I have not conquered the whole
world."
Alexander felt embarrassed because what he was saying was right. Then Diogenes
said, "Why are you wasting your life in conquering the world -- only to
relax, finally, just like me. This bank of the river is big enough, you can
come, and your friends can come and rest here right now. It is miles long and
the forest is beautiful. And I don't possess anything. If you like the place
where I am lying down, I can change!"
am on my way to conquer the whole world, after that I am going to relax, just
like you."
Diogenes laughed and he said, "If after conquering the whole world you are
just going to relax like me, why not relax right now? Is conquering the whole
world a precondition for relaxation? I have not conquered the whole
world."
Alexander felt embarrassed because what he was saying was right. Then Diogenes
said, "Why are you wasting your life in conquering the world -- only to
relax, finally, just like me. This bank of the river is big enough, you can
come, and your friends can come and rest here right now. It is miles long and
the forest is beautiful. And I don't possess anything. If you like the place
where I am lying down, I can change!"
Alexander was definitely very much impressed by this. For
a moment he felt embarrassed, that what Diogenes was saying was correct: if he
is to take rest in the end, then why is he planning for it this way? Diogenes
was certainly resting and was happier than Alexander. His face was like a fully
blossomed lotus.
a moment he felt embarrassed, that what Diogenes was saying was correct: if he
is to take rest in the end, then why is he planning for it this way? Diogenes
was certainly resting and was happier than Alexander. His face was like a fully
blossomed lotus.
Alexander told Diogenes, “You make me feel jealous of you.
If ever I’m to born again I will ask God not to make me Alexander but to make
me Diogenes.”
If ever I’m to born again I will ask God not to make me Alexander but to make
me Diogenes.”
Diogenes said, “You are again deceiving yourself. Why are
you bringing God in this? If you want to become Diogenes, then what is the
difficulty in your being Diogenes right now? It is difficult for me to be an
Alexander because I may or may not be able to conquer the world. I may or may
not be able to collect such a big army. But there is no difficulty in your
being Diogenes: just throw away your clothes and rest!”
you bringing God in this? If you want to become Diogenes, then what is the
difficulty in your being Diogenes right now? It is difficult for me to be an
Alexander because I may or may not be able to conquer the world. I may or may
not be able to collect such a big army. But there is no difficulty in your
being Diogenes: just throw away your clothes and rest!”
image courtesy Dream girl diaries
This post was written by: Franklin Manuel
Franklin Manuel is a professional blogger, web designer and front end web developer. Follow him on Twitter
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