One day a king came to see the Buddha. They got into discussion and the question arose as to who was the happier, the king or the Buddha. 'Of course I'm happier,' said the king, 'I've got palaces, wives, courtiers, wealth, armies, horses, and elephants. I have power, fame - anything I want. What do you have? A robe, a begging bowl, a few scruffy followers...'
'Tell me,' asked the Buddha, 'could you sit here for an hour, doing nothing at all, fully alert, enjoying complete happiness?'
'Er... I suppose I could,' replied the king.
'And could you sit here for six hours - without moving - enjoying complete and perfect happiness?'
'Ah... that would be rather difficult,' said the king.
'And could you sit here for a day and a night, without moving, being perfectly happy, all the time?'
The king admitted that would be beyond him.
'But I can sit here for seven days and seven nights, without stirring,
all the time enjoying complete and perfect happiness,' said the Buddha.
'Therefore, I think I am more happy than you.'
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