The king was tempted many times but he always kept himself in control. Then the moment came. His country was invaded and he was defeated. He lost all that he had. Chased by the enemy he fled on his horse to a mountainous region where he suddenly stopped because a great abyss lay in his path. Meanwhile the enemy came so close that he could even hear the sound of approaching horses. Knowing that within a few minutes they would reach him, he suddenly remembered the ring.

He removed the diamond and read the small note which said, "This too will pass." A great silence descended upon him. "This too will pass" . . . And it actually happened that slowly the sound of the approaching enemy receded -- they had taken a wrong turn and had moved in another direction.

Later, back home, he collected his army and conquered the enemy. There was much celebration when he returned from the battlefield and he felt very great and proud. Riding on the top wave of his luck, and thoroughly enjoying his success, he suddenly remembered the message again: "This too will pass." Once more a great calm descended upon him and he felt that it was all the same -- defeat or victory, nothing remains.

After that day the king had totally changed and the people were puzzled about this different man. Again and again they asked him: "What has happened to you? You don't look disturbed anymore nor restless and it seems that all worrying and anxieties have disappeared. You look so calm, quiet and collected -- what is the secret of it?"

Finally he called his court and told them the story about the ring. Then he said: "There is no other secret in it as the simple message 'This too will pass'. This is my only scripture. Whenever something comes into my mind like anger, jealousy, hatred or greed, I simply remind myself that this too will pass, and suddenly it is no longer there. I am just waiting to be reunited with my natural being."