Thread by @varadadya

Story Time.

Once in Kashi, there was a theatrical performance arranged. The Queen & the entire kingdom participated.

A Character in the Play was to be a Princess (little girl). They had a Casting issue, Queen had a Son (not a daughter).

Queen suggested let's dress him up as a princess. The people around did a fantastic job in dressing up the Prince as a Princess. He looked so pretty that the royal Painter painted a Portrait.

That Portrait was framed, with the proper date and caption "Princess of Kashi".

The Play turned out to be very good.

Years passed. Prince grew in age. He was doing all the macho-Prince like activities (Horse riding, archery, learning combat, learning all the Royal skills of Politics & economics)

One day, on a lazy afternoon. Prince was looking for something. His search bough him to the basement of the Palace (where all old stuff is kept). Prince stumbled upon that painting. He read the caption "Princess of Kashi". He saw the date too and did some mental math.

Prince could not take his eye away from the painting. He was totally bowled over by the little girl's beauty.

According to him, the Princess would have been of the same age as him, now.

The portrait, her beauty everything stayed with him.

Days passed, entire kingdom notice, the prince was not his usual self. He would not concentrate on his classes. He would not pay attention to his royal chores.

Such was the distraction that it got the King & Queen worried.

The King summoned his smartest Ministers.

King: Mantriji, Find out what's wrong with my Son. He doesn't talk to me. He is your student too, please find out what's wrong.

Old aged Mantri Ji duly agreed to his King.

Mantri Ji met Prince and started talking.

Mantri Ji: Son, my experience tell me, you are in some kind of mental trouble. There is some issue that is bothering you. Tell me, what's the problem.

Prince: Sir, I think I am in love.

Mantriji (now very Happy) : What, tell me who she is?

We shall announce it to everybody. First I will tell the King and Queen. We will arrange a grand wedding ceremony for you. Before Mantriji could complete his emotions. The Prince Cut him. "But Sir, I don't know, where is she".

Now Mantriji is confused.

Mantriji : What, then how do you know, you love her.
Prince : I have seen her picture.
Mantriji : I would like to see her picture too. Can you please show me?
Prince : Sure, Come with me.

Prince takes him to the Basement of the Palace.

After taking a few steps in. He shows the picture with the caption "Princess of Kashi".

Mantri Ji, watches the picture in awe.

Prince : Isnt she beautiful?

Now Mantriji wants to confirm.

Mantri Ji: Is this the Girl you are in love with and you want to Marry?

Prince: YES.

Mantri Ji (Concerned): We need to talk about this SON. Please join me at the Court.

Saying this, he took the Prince to the Palace (above).

Mantri ji (Soft tone) : Son, listen to me carefully. There is no "Princess of Kashi".

Prince (Visually distraught and angry): What?

Mantri Ji : Sit down, let me explain. Years back there was a theatrical performance. Where our Queen (your mother) had dressed you as Princess.

That Picture is You.

Prince (now Amused): Are you serious, Sir. All this while. I was deeply in love with myself.

Mantri Ji: Yes my SON.

Both have a Hearty Laugh.

The moment the Prince heard of the truth, the desire for Princess of Kashi in his heart disappeared. He realised that he alone is that girl in the painting! But why, did the desire go away? Is it because he married her? No.

Or did it go away because he realized there was no way he could marry her? No. It went away because he realised that there is no such girl, as apart from him. The girl in the picture and he himself are one and the same.

In this story, the Prince realised the duality of him & the Princess, was only ignorance and not reality. There are no two different individuals, two different beings. The illusion was caused by his not knowing, was because of the darkness of ignorance.

This universe is our ‘Princess of Kashi’.

When we realise "Brahma", we realise there is nothing in this universe apart from me. We are one with everything that exists & ever will exist.