The Banker and the Aged Belgian Priest

Copyright © Jacques Girard, Ph.D.
http://www.payitforward4profits.com/spirou

Let me share with you the amazing story of what happened to a very famous financial success a while back..

Ambrose Stillwell,III was a renowned multi-billionaire and the head of San Francisco's largest Bank..lived in his hilltop eagle's nest mansion with a six car garage that housed five luxury automobiles and his stretch limo…

He had been happily married to his glamorous, elegant wife for nearly twenty years. They had three healthy children doing well in their private schools... had servants... chauffeurs...gardeners...a private Chef...a successful investment portfolio...members at the most elite country club... traveled the world on their luxury yacht...lacking nothing material...

One morning, on his way to the Bank, traffic over the Bay Bridge had slowed down...Ambrose tells his chauffeur to stop, as he wished to walk, and sent the limo. back to the Estate...

After a while, he stopped and called his wife, advising her that he was not going to his office...and may not even come home that night... he felt he had to clear his head of pressures...rented a room in a run-of-the-mill Hotel and began his mental quest for 'Truth and The Purpose of Life', which had been plaguing him for some time...

A couple of unsatisfying meetings with San Francisco-based Religious leaders motivated him to fly to L.A., where he aspired to hook up with a Swami at the Vedanta Temple...and a famed, etherial Rabbi...

One night, as he was wandering about, he got mugged and robbed of all his cash, wallet with credit cards, jewelry...couldn't afford to pay for his Hotel room, so he ended up being a street person and Mission beggar...

Life was tough in the streets, so he attempted to get new credit cards, or withdraw a few thousand dollars... This is when he learned that his wife had frozen all his accounts and blocked him from obtainaing any kind of credit or loan...

He began his journey to Salt Lake City, hoping to find answers in the LDS Temple...got nothing much there...went on to New York...still nothing...

Three years later, after Many terrible adventures, disappointments, much suffering and pain, and other agonizing set-backs... he found himself climbing the snow-covered Himalayas as he was attempting to reach Tibet, where he had been told there was a 190-year-old Belgian former Priest, Pere Andre, now The Grand Lama ...who was said to have found 'The Secret of Life'.

Not being in the best of physical conditions...scantily clothed, his foot slipped and he fell down a ravine. Lying there with a broken ankle, weak, he was prepared to freeze to death...

A group of Tibetan Buddhist Priests, on their way back to the Temple from an excursion, noticed Ambrose...gently picked him up and carried him to the top of the mountain...

Looking down on the other side, there was no snow...no bitter cold...just blue skies, greenery, multi-colored flower beds, peaceful, happy people moving about... everyone appearing young, happy and healthy...He wondered if this was the legendary "Shangri-La" where eternal youth flourished?..They took him there...bathed him and tended to his wounds...fed him...gave him comfortable clothes...had him rest in a warm, comfortbale bed...

Ambrose was getting edgy, since he was so close to Pere Andre ...and couldn't wait to have an audience with him, at long last...A Buddhist Priest advised him that Pere Andre was aware of his presence and would soon call for him...

Two days later that felt like two weeks, it finally happened !... and he was taken to an incense-perfumed room where a frail figure of a man sat on what looked like a throne...in semi-darkness...He spoke first in a weak but kind voice, '..and what do you wish to ask me, my son?'...

Ambrose eagerly shared with him that he had been assured by many 'Holy' people in Europe and America to be 'THE' Absolute Authority in Spiritual matters...wise, learned, Saintly...a Top EXPERT in ALL Godly matters...who had ALL the ANSWERS... including the one sought by Ambrose: 'WHAT is TRUTH and THE MEANING OF LIFE' ?

Without a moment's hesitation, Pere Andre said: ‘In your country, a comedian called Woody Allen said something very deep once: ‘I’m astounded by people who want to ‘know’ the Universe, when it’s hard enough to find your way around Chinatown’…And, to answer Your question: 'TRUTH and The Meaning of LIFE', my son, is a Blue Bird in a tree...hopping from limb to limb...singing joyfully...'

Beside himself, Ambrose almost screamed at the ancient Belgian Holy Man saying:' You mean that I gave up BILLIONS of DOLLARS...an AFFLUENT... LUXURIOUS way of life...a respected member of my upper-class community and Country Club... Chairman of my own reputable Bank...Huge investments yielding fortunes like clock-work...FIVE Luxury Automobiles and a Limousine in my Palacial Estate's garage...servants... three wonderful children...a gorgeous wife who froze all my assets and disowned me because of this Spiritual Journey...I made Many Other sacrifices in search of THE ANSWER to my QUESTION... I was mugged... attacked... robbed... lived like an abandoned animal... starving... eating garbage... crawled on my belly to get here...fell into a crevice... broke my ankle... and, AFTER ALL THAT...ALL YOU CAN TELL ME is ' TRUTH and the Meaning of LIFE is a blue bird in a tree, hopping from limb to limb to limb, singing joyfully..'??...
...to which the Grand Lama responds: '...You mean...it.. ISN'T?'...

(Jacques: "And Another EXPERT bit the dust!")...:o)

About the Author:SEE PROFILE
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To find the best home based business ideas and
opportunities so you can work at home visit:
http://www.payitforward4profits.com/spirou
-----------------------------------------------------------------