Chapter 2

           Abouttwenty-fivehundredyearsago,intheHimalayanfoothillsofpresent-dayNepal,therelivedinagreatpalaceakingwhowasgoingtohaveason.Forthissonthekinghadaparticularlygrandidea:hewouldmakethechild’slifeperfect.Thechildwouldneverknowamomentofsuffering—everyneed,everydesire,wouldbeaccountedforatalltimes.

           Thekingbuilthighwallsaroundthepalacethatpreventedtheprincefromknowingtheoutsideworld.Hespoiledthechild,lavishinghimwithfoodandgifts,surroundinghimwithservantswhocateredtohiseverywhim.Andjustasplanned,thechildgrewupignorantoftheroutinecrueltiesofhumanexistence.

           Alloftheprince’schildhoodwentonlikethis.Butdespitetheendlessluxuryandopulence,theprincebecamekindofapissed-offyoungman.Soon,everyexperiencefeltemptyandvalueless.Theproblemwasthatnomatterwhathisfathergavehim,itneverseemedenough,nevermeantanything.

           Solateonenight,theprincesnuckoutofthepalacetoseewhatwasbeyonditswalls.Hehadaservantdrivehimthroughthelocalvillage,andwhathesawhorrifiedhim.

           Forthefirsttimeinhislife,theprincesawhumansuffering.Hesawsickpeople,oldpeople,homelesspeople,peopleinpain,evenpeopledying.

           Theprincereturnedtothepalaceandfoundhimselfinasortofexistentialcrisis.Notknowinghowtoprocesswhathe’dseen,hegotallemoabouteverythingandcomplainedalot.