Under the Magic Tree
Lost in the Forest
A man once lost his way in a forest. Climbing a tall tree to find the way out, he looked out only to see trees as far as his vision could reac just trees, and nothing else.
Fear crept in as the howls of wild animals echoed in the darkness that surrounded him. Shivering, he clung to the tree, worried about what might happen next.
The Mendicant’s Hut
Fortunately, he spotted smoke curling up through the treetops in the distance. He climbed down hastily and ran toward the source of the smoke. Soon, he found himself in front of a quaint little hut.
The hut belonged to an old mendicant, and the traveler was delighted to find a safe refuge for the night. The mendicant treated him to delicious food and sweet drinks. The traveler was puzzled by the abundance of such delights in the wild.
A Year of Service
As the night passed, the traveler decided he would like to stay longer and serve the mendicant. His request was granted. He gathered dry wood from the forest and fresh water from a nearby spring, lighting a fire for the mendicant each day. The mendicant would venture into the forest twice daily, returning with delightful meals for his guest, but he never took anything for himself except fruits and roots.
The Unexpected Departure
A year went by, and one day the mendicant announced, “My son! It is time for me to depart from this forest.”
“I will accompany you wherever you go,” the man replied eagerly.
“That is not possible. I must journey to the high altitudes of the Himalayas, and I must go alone. However, before we part, I will grant you a boon. Tell me what would please you,” the mendicant offered.
The Wish-Fulfilling Tree
The traveler pondered for a moment before asking, “Sir, before I request a boon, please tell me how you managed to provide such delicious food all this time. Where do you find it?”
The mendicant smiled and replied, “There is a wish-fulfilling tree somewhere in this forest. I merely stood under it and wished for the food, and it was given to me instantly.”
“Now I know what boon I desire. Please show me that magic tree,” the man said excitedly.
The mendicant’s expression turned grave. “That is not a wise request, my son. Only those with great control over their thoughts and desires should access that tree. Although I have known of it through my ascetic practices, I have never requested anything for my own enjoyment.”
A Costly Desire
“Please, sir, show me the tree. This is the only boon I wish for,” the man pleaded persistently.
“Well then,” said the mendicant with a heavy heart, “Come with me.”
He led the man to a magnificent tree situated in the densest part of the forest. The traveler was overjoyed. “I’m going to miss you; we will likely not meet again,” the mendicant said as he walked away.
But the traveler was too enthralled by the tree to say goodbye. “I wish I had a chair to sit down here,” he murmured to himself. To his delight, a comfortable chair materialized before him, and as he settled into it, he whispered, “I wish I had a cup like the one I once saw the king drinking from.”
The Consequences of Wishes
In the next moment, he was holding a bejeweled cup filled to the brim with exquisite wine. Elated, he took a sip and reveled in its flavor. Remembering how kings enjoyed dancing while in such comfort, he barely had the thought in his mind when an array of fairy-like damsels appeared, dancing around him.
Suddenly, the reality of his surroundings struck him. It was night, and he was alone in the deepest part of the forest. “What if a tiger pounces on me?” he wondered.
A Sorrowful Departure
The mendicant, who was still on the path out of the forest, heard the tiger’s roar and the man’s desperate cry. He sighed but did not look back, carrying the burden of wisdom unheeded by his former guest.