One day, when the Buddha was teaching at the monastery, the King came before the Buddha to listen to the Dharma.
Once the Buddha Siddhartha finished teaching, the king asked, "Lord Buddha, can you the honored one kindly tell me which is the sharpest sword, which is the most deadliest poison, what forms unbreakable armor, and what is the best weapon?"
Then Buddha answered, "My dear King, you should know that harsh and unkind words form the sharpest sword; greed is the most deadliest poison; patience forms unbreakable armor and wisdom is the best weapon.
The King asked Buddha again, "In this world, who receives the most benefit, who suffers the greatest loss; which is the most furious fire, and which is the darkest of all nights?"
The Buddha answered, "Those who give receive the most benefit; those who are greedy, only look for gain and never intend to reciprocate, suffer the great loss; worldly worries forms the most furious fire and ignorance is the darkest night."
The King asked, "In this world, who is the most cunning thief, what made the most precious treasure, what treasure can we rely the most and what is the greatest cause for attachment?"
The Buddha answered, "Unwholesome thoughts are the most cunning thieves; morality is the most precious treasure, being liberated from the cycle of birth and death is the treasure upon which we can rely the most and our mind is the greatest cause of attachment."
The King continued, "What quality is the most attractive and disgusting, what is the most horrible pain, and what is the greatest enjoyment?"
The Buddha answered, "Goodness is most attractive and evil is most disgusting; regret is the most horrible pain and liberation from worldly materials and worries is the greatest enjoyment."
The King asked, "What is the reason for death in this world, what can spoil a friendship, what is the most serious sickness, and who makes the best doctor?"
The Buddha answered, "Ignorance is the root of death; jealousy and selfishness spoil friendship; hatred is the most serious sickness; and the Buddha is the unsurpassed doctor."
As the King was very happy the Buddha can answered all his questions and thought for a while and asked again, "The honored one, I have one more question to ask. "What cannot be destroyed by fire, floods, wind and weapons but still remains the source of all existence?"
The Buddha replied wit a smile, "The merit created from doing good deeds is the answered to all. It cannot be destroyed by anything even the deadliest fire, sharpest weapon, most cunning or wise men, yet the merit still remains the source of all that exists in the universe."
After listen to the Buddha's words of wisdom, the King was full of joy. Not only he become enlighten but he can now be a better King to take care of his country's welfare. He paid homage to the Buddha and departed.
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