============================================================== To reach ALL SJD members, please send to sjd@satjadham.net ... Do NOT include any other addresses when sending to the list... Include as LITTLE of the original messages as possible........ Message sent by: SerMikey@aol.com ============================================================== "I'll teach the proud young fool a thing or two," Rama thought. He strode to the throne, pointed at his nephew and said in a loud threatening voice. "Is it normal behavior for your people to deny their guest food and comfort and then be rude to them as well?" "Uncle, I am shocked that you would suggest such a thing. My subjects are famous for their generous hospitality and they are never rude to anyone." "Then why was my army denied food and comfort? Why do you a mere boy sit upon a royal throne while I Rama the Great Stand?" "The answer to your questions are simple uncle, my people have not denied their guest anything, neither you nor your army were invited to visit so you are not our guest. I sit upon this throne uncle because I am king here, I and I alone rule." And now the finale..... ------------------ As the young king spoke King Rama's face became redder and redder everyone who knew him knew that the young king was about to die. Even the Siamese admired the bravery of the young king but everyone thought him rather stupid to anger Rama as he had done. King Rama grabbed for the sword he usually carried, luckily for the young king, Rama had left his sword in his tent, nobody expected resistance from the Lao. "If I had a sword I would slice you into little pieces and feed you to the dogs in the street you insolent pup." Rama screamed. The old man who had been standing out of sight behind the throne stepped forward. With each step he moved he lifted the tip of his walking staff off the floor, a loud hollow boom punctuated each step as the staff collided with the floor. "Rama the Great? What nonsense is this?" The old mans gentle voice was gone, replaced by a voice of strength and majesty. "Rama the Great, tell me sir when was it that school yard bullies were awarded such titles because you are little more than they are." "Who are you that you dare challenge my right to titles and glory?" King Rama screamed. "One who knew you as a child, you were unpleasant then and you are even more unpleasant now as a man." "I am king of Siam and you dare insult me? You'll die for this you fool." "King? You are no king; you are a fool wishing to be a king. You hold your throne with violence and terror. Kings are wise, kind and thoughtful with a deep affection for the people they serve. That is the truth of kingship Rama, kings rule by serving their people not by terrorising and killing them." Rama was so angry that he could no longer speak, he attempted to order the old mans death but his bodyguards were unable to understand him. Rama ran about the room trying to obtain a weapon with which to attack his tormentor. He was so angry that he dropped every weapon he got his hands on. The laughter of the old man roared in his ears threatening to drive him insane. Finally, Rama fell to the floor exhausted. Turning to the young king of the north the old man said, "Rama wishes to be a king, to achieve this he will have to learn many virtues sire. I fear that this will never be. Rama is a stupid, intolerant and violent man. He sneers with contempt at those who aspire to virtue; he considers any man whom choses to live a good and peaceful life to be a weakling. Rama can never be king in this life yet he occupies a powerful throne, something must be done, a decision must be made." Pointing at the young king the old man continued. "You yourself your majesty are but a boy with much to learn, do you wish that I should judge Rama for his crimes?" "By what right would you judge a king?" The young King asked. "I my lord have the honour of being one of the judges in the court of Pragna Gnom Pibane, Ruler of the Underworld. It is by my lord's command that I am here young majesty." As the old man spoke, everyone in the throne room recognized the truth of his words and bowed down before him. Here truly was a judge capable of deciding a king's fate, the young king vacated his throne, offering it to this lord of the underworld. The old man thanked him graciously but declined to be seated. "There is no need for endless testimony, the misdeeds and crimes of Rama are known to all. We shall proceed to sentencing this sad creature and ridding the world of his evil greed. No sentence must be imposed that does not take into account the welfare of the criminal; Rama's crimes are the result of a lack of virtue, humility and his desire to dominate. Truly great men, be they kings or peasants aspire to virtue and are humble by nature with no desire to dominate. A truly great king leads by his example of humble virtue; he dominates with service to his people. These are the lessons that Rama must learn. There is no school to teach him the lessons he requires, no man with the knowledge. But, there is an animal with all the attributes needed by this pathetic creature before us. The elephant: peaceful, noble and wise. Rama, this is my sentence upon you, You and all who followed you here with greed and violence in there hearts shall be reborn this very minute as elephants. All the virtues of that noble race shall be yours; you and your army shall serve the peoples you wished to enslave." The old man brought his staff crashing down on the floor causing a great hollow boom to echo throughout the kingdom. The trumpeting of thousands of elephants echoed this. Where Rama had grovelled on the floor before his judge a great white elephant stood. In the doorway there was a crowd of ordinary grey elephants where Rama's court officials, sons and bodyguards had stood. In the great camp of Rama's army there were no longer any people, just elephants all waiting to be of service to the young king of the Land of a Million Elephants. ----------------- THE END Note from Mike: Post your comments/gripes/criticisms to the group! =) _ ***************************************************************** Visit SatJaDham Homepage at: http://www.satjadham.org (or .net) *****************************************************************