The Elephant King Goodness (Generosity and Ingratitude)

　　Once upon a time the Enlightenment Being was born as an elephant. He was wonderfully white in colour, glowing like polished silver. His feet were as smooth and bright as the finest lacquer. His mouth was as red as the most elegant red carpet. And his marvellous eyes were like precious jewels, sparkling in five colours - blue, yellow, red, white and crimson.

　　The splendid beauty of this magnificent elephant was the outer form of the Enlightenment Being. But this was only a pale reflection of his inner beauty - because during many previous lives he had filled himself with the Ten Perfections: energy, determination, truthfulness, wholesomeness, giving up attachment to the ordinary world, evenmindedness, wisdom, patience, generosity, and of course - loving-kindness.

　　When he became an adult, all the other elephants in the Himalayan forests came to follow and serve him. Before long his kingdom contained a population of 80,000 elephants. Such a large nation was crowded and filled with distractions. In order to live more quietly, he separated himself from the rest and went to live alone in a secluded part of the forest. Because of his wholesomeness and purity, which were easily seen by everyone, he was known as the Elephant King Goodness.

　　In the meantime, a forester from Benares travelled into these Himalayan foothills. He was searching for things of value he could sell back in Benares. After a while he lost his sense of direction. He ran back and forth trying to find his way. Soon he became exhausted and scared to death! He began trembling and crying out loud from fear.

　　The Elephant King Goodness heard the sound of the poor lost man”s frightened weeping. Immediately he was filled with pity and compassion. Wishing to help him in any way he could, he began walking through the forest towards him.

　　But the man was in such a big panic that, when he saw the gigantic elephant coming towards him, he started running away. When the wise elephant king saw this, he stopped moving. Seeing this, the forester also stopped. Then King Goodness began walking towards him again, the man started running, and once again stopped when the elephant stopped.

　　At that point the man thought, "This noble elephant! When I run, he stops. And when I stop, he walks towards me. No doubt he intends me no harm - he must want to help me instead!" Realising this gave him the courage to stop and wait.

　　As the Elephant King Goodness slowly approached, he said, "My human friend, why are you wandering about crying in panic

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　　"Lord elephant," said the man, "I lost all sense of direction, became hopelessly lost, and was afraid I would die!"

　　Then the Enlightenment Being took the forester to his own secluded dwelling place. He comforted and soothed him by treating him to the finest fruits and nuts in all the Himalayas. After several days he said, "My friend, don”t be afraid. I will take you to the land where people live. Sit on my back." Then he began carrying him towards the land of men.

　　While riding comfortably on this glorious being, the man thought, "Suppose people ask me where I was. I must be able to tell everything." So he made notes of all the landmarks, while being carried to safety by the kind elephant king.

　　When he came out of the thick forest near the highway to Benares, the Elephant King Goodness said, "My good friend, take this road to Benares. Please don”t tell anyone where I live, whether they ask you or not." With these parting words, the gentle elephant turned around and went back to his safe and secret home.

　　The man had no trouble finding his way to Benares. Then one day, while walking in the bazaar, he came to the shops of the ivory carvers. They carved ivory into delicate and beautiful statues, sce…

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