One of my all-time favourite stories is that of a Kalpavriksha or a wish-fulfilling tree. A small-time merchant of yore was said to be walking through a large stretch of barren land on his way to the next city, where he had some business to attend to. It was an extremely hot day and the heat of the sun was scorching and merciless. The merchant spotted a tree in the far distance and headed hastily towards it. He knew he wouldn’t be able to continue his journey until the sun dropped a bit in the sky and figured his best bet was to stay protected under the shade of the ample foliage that this single tree offered. What he didn’t know was that this was a Kalpavriksha or a wish-fulfilling tree.
As the man took shelter under the tree, he cursed himself for not having any water on him and his mind wished ardently for some cold, lifegiving water. Lo and behold he spotted a jar of chilled water at the base of the tree. He fell on the jar and gulped down the water. Thirst sated, sheltered from the heat, his mind began to do what most minds would – look for more things to desire! ‘How lucky I am to have found this shade and the water’, he thought. Wouldn’t it have been just perfect if there was some food too? He could not believe what happened next. Smell of delicious cooked food wafted through the air and as he turned his head in the direction of the smell, he saw a large plate fairly close to where he was sitting. It was filled with food, almost identical to what he had just thought of. Hungry and happy, he reached for the plate and wiped it clean. ‘I guess it’s indeed my lucky day,’ he thought. Looks like all my wishes are getting fulfilled. I should have wished for more stuff like maybe a cot to lie down on after such a heavy and delicious meal and yes, as he glanced around, he spotted a cot where a moment ago there had been just empty space. Filled with wonder but still highly appreciative, our young merchant settled down to catch a quick shut-eye. In the warmth of the day, as his sleep-heavy eyes started to droop, he felt a mischievous thought pass through his mind. “Oh, but for the company of an attractive young woman!” and all sleep left him as he noticed the silhouette of a curvaceous female form make its way towards him. Suddenly all this was too much for him. He sat up startled, shocked and was in short beginning to freak out. “Good lord, what if this is no woman but a beast? Something that will devour me!” That, my friends was apparently his last thought. Needless to say, he was promptly done for.
The mind they say is like that. A wish-fulfilling tree, be careful of what you think and where you let it go. For whatever is that you ask for, you shall indeed receive.
