Once there was a caterpillar destined to be the king of the butterflies in the whole world. While still young, he ate a great variety of leaves and trained his body in vigorous exercise. He sharpened his mind in books and great discourses. He did all these so he would be a strong and wise ruler someday.

Then the time came for him to envelop himself in a golden web, a pupa worthy only for a king. He endured his enclosure dreaming of wealth and power and glory. Slowly, he developed his wings with which he can claim his magnificent kingdom. Meanwhile, all the butterflies in the world eagerly awaited in utter longing for the arrival of their king.

After seemingly endless days of patient waiting, beautiful wings suddenly emerged. Lo and behold the King! All winged creatures proclaimed, "Hail, the Messiah, Come to save us all!"

The butterfly king flew and spread his glorious wings far and wide. He saw the beauty and sparkle of the earth. His heart was filled with wonder at the vast fields and the glorious array of multicolored flowers. But when he was about to sip of the honeyed sweetness, he bumped into an invisible force that withheld him. Frantically, he tried to reach out to the vast fields and flowers but to no avail. For it was a wide glass window that separated him from all the beauty of the world.

All the butterflies implored, "Come." And all the shining flowers voiced out, "Come." All the golden fields chorused, "Come." And the emerald forests silently urged. "Come." And the bright skies invitingly called, "Come." And the dark mountains thundered, "Come." All the creation shouted. "COME AND CLAIM YOUR KINGDOM!"

As his desire grew, so did his supreme effort. But as his effort grew, so did his tiredness and desperation. Darkness entered his heart and blighted his courage. And all those who watched took pity and were dismayed at the butterfly who would be king.

As the night fell, a terrible sadness overcame the lonely butterfly. His heart cried out in anguish, "For what use is this kingdom if I cannot even touch it? For what use is life and beauty now that death is near? And for what use are glory, power, and riches with no one to share? ... my wings are all I have." Then there was deafening silence.

At last, he prayed, "Almighty Nameless One, I deeply thank you for a radiant though brief life. You take me anytime as you may please."

So he gave up all his kingdom and all beauty and all dream of grandeur and glory. He gave up all trying and just abandoned himself to fly in the last remaining moments of his life.

He flew with gusto into the darkness, not knowing where to go. He flew as he never flew before, knowing neither beauty nor ugliness, neither joy nor sorrow, neither pleasure nor pain save that of pure light. He flew for the sake of flying knowing that death lies waiting.

Death admired his courage and was enraptured by his flight. Even time stopped and did not claim him, mesmerized as she was in the dance.

As the night dawned into a magnificent sunrise, the butterfly king simply flew oblivious to his surroundings. He never ate and drank and is never known to tire. Wherever he passes, he unknowingly bestows blessings of love and power. The butterflies in the world wondered and said. "Hail, Butterfly King, save us, tell the secret of your miracles." To this, the Butterfly King replied, "I don't know. The only miracle that I know of is the adventure of flying, just as you do, in this wonderful land."

Some say the Butterfly King flies even to this very day. He spreads warmth, joy, gladness and healing to everyone willing to receive. For only when you have given up everything, so shall you have everything in return, or so says the legend.

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