A king approached a saint and said, ‘I have meditated continuously for two years in the forest to become your disciple. I have left everything behind me and I am entirely detached from this physical world.’ Saint said, ‘I welcome you King in my ashram but you have to go through some tests to become my disciple. Please explain how are you detached from this world’ King replied, ‘I no longer have any affection for royal ornaments, clothes, servants and entertainment. I can suppress my hunger for days. I have no desire to be with women. I can remain seated or in standing position in all kind of weather for days.’ Saint said, ‘Do you know your son lost your kingdom in the battle?’ ‘I do not care about these things anymore,’ King replied. ‘And your wife is very ill’, Saint added. King knew the Saint was testing his will power. He remain steady like a solid rock, unaffected by any bad or good news Saint brought to his attention.

Saint then said, ‘Ok, I am satisfied by your answers. You seem to be tired, so eat something, take rest and we will meet in the early morning at the river side.’ King was very happy. After taking bath, he sat with everyone to eat food. His food was tasteless and cold. He could see that other disciples sitting next to him were served hot food and were enjoying their meal. Although King did not like this, he was smart enough to understand that this is part of the test. He couldn’t sleep properly as the bed was uneven. He reached riverside early morning, and prayed for the outcome he wanted so badly.

Saint arrived with some of his disciples at riverside just before Sun Rise. One Disciple said, ‘You are the most irresponsible King I have ever known.’ Another added, ‘You are not even a good person as you are not concerned about your ailing wife at home’. King was very annoyed. No one has ever talked to him like that. King shouted, ‘No one tell me what to do. I left everything because that is what you taught in your teachings. I meditated for more than two years and have made myself strong that nothing affects me and now your disciples are calling me a irresponsible person. If some one else had talked to me like that he wouldn’t be breathing now.’

Saint calmly said, ‘You put so much effort in making your body strong enough to weather all kind of conditions, but you left your heart open. Anyone can reach your emotions and hurt you easily. You did not like last night food, you felt uncomfortable while sleeping, YOU ARE STILL THINKING ABOUT YOURSELF. When GOD ask you to leave everything it means, you surrender your ego, your mind and become nothing. You become the flute through which GOD can play his music. There is a reason why you came to earth as Human Being and being born as a prince, GOD chose you to provide security and good livelihood to your citizens, who are not as blessed as you. A true disciple is mentally strong that no criticism can hurt him. No one can touch your emotions or evoke anger in you, then you are closer to next phase of life called Sannyasa. When you leave your EGO, then you become truly detached.’