A monk, Bhaddiya, was meditating
Long ago in India when
Some other monks heard him exclaim
"My happiness!" again and again.

Assuming that Bhaddiya lamented
The style of life that he had maintained
Before he gave up everything,
Donned his robes, and became ordained,

The other monks went to their master
And told him that Bhaddiya had sunk
Far below the standards required
To be a devout, righteous monk.

"Bring him to me," the master said,
Knowing full well the situation.
The puzzled monk entered the chamber
And bowed to his master in humble prostration.

The master asked, "Bhaddiya, were you
Repeating 'My happiness!' a while ago?
If indeed you were, dear friend,
Is there something that we should know?"

"Master," Bhaddiya replied, "at times
It's hard for me to contain my bliss.
There's absolutely nothing about
My former lifestyle that I miss.

"I was a statesman with power and wealth.
Servants and guards: there were so many.
But reasons to be happy? Well,
I had a hard time finding any.

"Though I had guards, I always feared
Someone would try to **** me and take
All my money and all my possessions.
There was alays so much at stake.

"But now I live in utmost freedom.
I have no fears; I feel…elated.
Never have I felt so happy--
So completely liberated!"

The other monks felt slightly ashamed.
How quickly they had jumped to conclusions!
How easily they had let themselves
Be caught off guard and trapped by illusions!

Bhaddiya had already learned his lesson.
Our ideas--he would confess--
Of what can make us happy can be
Obstacles to our happiness.

-by Bob B (4-30-18)

°An old tale retold here in verse