perfect. He taught this son, and
after teaching him himself, he sent him to the court of King Janaka. He
was a great king and was called Videha. Videha means 'outside the
body.' Although a king, he had entirely forgotten that he had a body; he
was a spirit all the time. The boy was sent to be taught by him. The
king knew that Vyasa's son was coming to him to learn, so he made
certain arrangements beforehand, and when the boy presented himself at
the gates of the palace, the guards took no notice of him whatsoever.
They only gave him a place to sit, and he sat there for three days and
nights, nobody speaking to him, nobody asking who he was or whence he
was. He was the son of this great sage, his father was honored by the
whole country, and he himself was a most respectable person; yet the low
vulgar guards of the palace would take no notice of him.

[Footnote 3: Karma Yoga, Vivekananda.]

"After that, suddenly, the ministers of the king and all the high
officials came there and received him with the greatest honors. They
took him in and showed him into splendid rooms, gave him the most
fragrant baths and wonderful dresses, and for eight days they kept him
there in all kinds of luxury. That face did not change; he was the same
in the midst of this luxury as at the door. Then he was brought before
the king. The king was on his throne, music was playing, and dancing and
other amusements going on. The king gave him a cup of milk, full to the
brim, and asked him to go round the hall seven times without spilling a
drop. The boy took the cup and proceeded in the midst of this music and
the beautiful faces. Seven times he went round, and not a drop was
spilled. The boy's mind could not be attracted by anything in the world
unless he allowed it. And when he brought the cup to the king, the king
said to him: 'What your father has taught you and what you have learned
yourself, I only repeat; you have known the truth. Go home.'"

When Penloe had finished Mrs. Herne said: "Thank you, Penloe, that is
very good, for it brings out the idea so well."

Mrs. French said: "Is not that very fine, Penloe? I never heard that
thought expressed before. It is new to me."

Dr. Finch, who was a well educated young dentist, said: "That thought,
though old to the people of the Orient, is just beginning to come to the
front in the literature of the West. I was very much gratified in
listening to Penloe."

Saunders, the merchant, laughed and sai