In the hallowed halls of the royal court, a saintly figure strode in with an air of serenity, his gaze piercing through the pomp and grandeur that surrounded him. The minister, perturbed by the saint's apparent disregard for royal protocol, hastened to remind him of the king's exalted status.
"O Saint," the minister implored, "this is the sovereign's court, where all bow before the king seated upon his throne. Show reverence, and bow before his majesty."
But the saint's response was unexpected, challenging the very essence of power and authority. With a calm demeanor, he posed a thought-provoking question to the minister: "Ask your king, is he the master of his mind, or is his mind his master?"
Puzzled by the saint's inquiry, the minister relayed the question to the king, who, after contemplation, admitted, "Like all mortals, I am bound by the dictates of my own mind. It guides my actions, shaping my decisions and desires."
Returning to the saint with the king's response, the minister was met with laughter—a laughter that carried the weight of profound insight. The saint revealed the paradox of power: while the king may hold dominion over his kingdom, his mind held dominion over him.
With clarity dawning upon the court, the saint's words resonated deeply within the king's heart. Recognizing the truth in the saint's wisdom, the king humbled himself before the saint, acknowledging the supremacy of a mind mastered.
In that moment of humility, the king relinquished the trappings of his earthly authority, bowing not to the saint's feet, but to the wisdom that transcended the realm of mortal kings. It was a gesture of reverence for the profound truth unveiled by the saint—a truth that liberated the king from the shackles of his own mind and ushered him into the realm of true sovereignty.
Thus, in the palace of power and prestige, it was the saint's gentle reminder that reigned supreme—a reminder that true mastery lies not in the wielding of external authority, but in the mastery of one's own mind.