THE STORY OF TWO LOVERS - a story from the Buddhist Sutra.
This is a dramatic love story from the Buddhist Sutra. It is fairly lengthy
and therefore sub-divided into several ACTS.
ACT I - Magic Pearl from the Dragon King of Ocean
Once upon a time, an Indian King had two sons. One of them was very kind and
compassionate, and the other was very mean and evil. For simplicity, we will
call them the Good Heart Prince and the Evil Heart Prince respectively.
One day, the King summoned them to the Imperial Court and said, "The welfare
of my subjects is very important, and my government had been helping the poor
people of this country. But now my treasury is almost empty and so I want you
to go to see the Dragon King (God of the Ocean) and ask for help. Once you went
to the ocean shore, you recite a mantra given to me by a Hermit yesterday. Then
the Dragon King will come out to greet you and give you a precious pearl. Bring
it home and put it in my treasury because it will bring prosperity to my kingdom
and my people."
The two brothers accepted the mission and off they went to the shore of the
Indian Ocean. They did exactly what was told and, after reciting the mantra,
the Dragon King came out of the Indian Ocean and asked what they want.
After listening to their request, the God of Indian Ocean said, "since
your Royal Father had such a noble cause, I will help you out. Take this magic
pearl back to your palace. It will ensure your Kingdom's prosperity as long
as you take good care of your subjects." Happily the two brothers accepted
the gift and left for home.
ACT II - The Fight between the Two Princes
As the two brothers traveled along a road on the way home, a greedy thought
suddenly came to the mind of the Evil Heart Prince. "Why not get the magic
precious pearl all for myself? After my father's death, I will be the King of
the richest kingdom on earth!" So, he drew his sword and tried to kill
his brother.
But, of course, the Good Heart Prince refused to give it up without resistance,
and soon it developed into a big fight. Unfortunately, after a whole day's fight,
the Good Heart Prince suffered serious injuries and collapsed by the road side.
The Evil Heart Prince took the pearl, returned to the Palace, and reported to
his father that they had encountered some rebellious gangs on the way. He told
his father that his brother was killed in a battle. The King was of course very
mournful upon hearing the death of his son.
ACT III - Escaped to the Neighborhood Kingdom
Back to the crime scene, some Buddhist Monks was walking by when they spotted
the badly wounded Good Heart Prince laying by the road side. They took him back
to their temple and tended his wounds. Several months had passed, the Good Heart
Prince was getting better, except for his eye sight - his eyes were injured
so badly that he was now blind.
By now, the Monks learned of his identity and decided that it was not safe for
the Prince to stay here, because the Evil Heart Prince always wanted to kill
him. So they took him to a Monastery in the neighbourhood Kingdom to continued
to take care of him.
Several years had passed and the Prince was fully recovered, except for his
eyesight. However, during the time he stayed in the Monastery, he learned how
to play various musical instruments and was able to play very good sensational
songs. During all these year, he had hided his identity for fear of being assassinated
by his brother.
One day, the King of the neighbourhood kingdom was looking for a gardener-musician
for the garden inside the Royal Palace. The Monk-in-Charge thought, "this
is a good place for Good Heart Prince to be in. He will be very safe inside
the Royal Palace." So, he recommended the Prince to the King for the job.
After an audition, the King immediately offered him the job, without knowing
that he was in fact the Prince was his Neighbour
Act IV - Prince and Princess Fallen in Love
The Good Heart Prince, now just an ordinary gardener, did a very good job at
the Royal Palace. He tended the plants of the Royal Palace really well and he
played good music for the Royal family. But still, he hided his identity and
everyone in the Palace thought that he was just an orphan grown up in a Buddhist
Monastery.
One beautiful evening, the King's Daughter took a walk in the garden and heard
a very beautiful song played by somebody in the garden. The Princess was so
attracted to the music that she went to find out who the musician was. As soon
as the two young people met, they seemed to know each other from previous lives
and they immediately fell in love with each other. The Princess went to the
Royal Garden every day to talk to the blind gardener and listen to his music.
After a while, they fell in love so madly with each other that the young Princess
went to see her father to ask permission to get married.
"What!?" the King was shook at the proposal and opposed to the marriage.
"You are a Royal Princess and he is just an ordinary blind gardener from
a lower class!" During ancient India, marriage across classes was unknown.
"But I love him. If you do not allow me to marry him, I will die of heartbreaking,"
said the Princess, crying.
"No way." replied the stubborn King. "When you were young, I
had promised to marry you to the Good Heart Prince of our Neighbourhood Kingdom.
You should be married to another Royal Family, not to an ordinary worker. Your
proposal cannot be accepted!"
"How can I get married to Good Heart Prince?" protested the Princess.
"The Prince had not been found for many years. I love him, even though
he is just an ordinary blind-gardener musician. Please, father, give us permission
to get married!"
Act V - A Miracle Performed by the King of Gods
By this time, the blind gardener stepped forward to reveal his identity and
told them he was the Good Heart Prince and that he was escaping from his brother,
the Evil Heart Prince. The Princess jumped for joy on hearing that her fiancé
was right there in front of her. The King, however, was skeptical, "How
can you prove that you are in fact Good Heart Prince?"
"I will swear to the King of Heaven and Gods that if I am telling the truth,
my eyesight will be restored. If not, then I will be blind forever." said
the gardener.
Emperor Sakra, the King of Gods, listening to the conservation, was so moved
by the gardener that he appeared before the young couple. He told everybody,
"You are right, young Prince. You are indeed the Good Heart Prince and
you two have the same karma in your previous lives so that you are destined
to be happily married couple." Then the King of Heaven performed a miracle
and restored the eyesight of the young prince completely.
Act VI - A Happy Ending
The wedding ceremony was of course magnificent. The embassador from the Neighourhood
Kingdom was invited. And the whole nation had a good time.
After the wedding, the couple returned to their home country with a fleet of
servants and guards carried by a herd of elephants. The Evil Heart Prince -
I do not know what happened to him - Some said that he was punished and served
a jail sentence. Others said that after the Good Heart Prince pardoned his crime,
he was so moved that he became a devout follower of the Lord Buddha.