Once upon a time in Tibet, there was a famous Master Nansen. Worthy students flocked to him to learn something worth learning. Three young princes Wang-Tsu, Chang-Tsu and Cheng-Tsu enrolled to study under him. They were well versed in martial arts and well trained in battle. They could shoot down a bird hundred feet away, spear a lion without even seeing it and catch a fish with their bare hands. After spending a few years in the monastery, a desire took form in their minds to visit India. When they approached the master, he told them that they were not yet ready to undertake such a difficult journey across the Himalayas. The princes were confident over their abilities and persisted. Reluctantly Nansen agreed and advised them, “Here is a packet of food that should last you for seven days. Start tomorrow early morning and cross the mountain ranges with in the week. After that a mighty storm will blow and close the pass for the rest of the year. On the second day, bathe in the Gandarva Sarovar and cross the swamps. Count your breath and keep it in 1:2 ratio. Account for all your food. The sick and wounded have to stay behind or else all of you will perish”.
The princes thought that they old man was needlessly scaring them. “ I have tore apart a hungry lion with my bare hands”, said Wang. “I have walked through burning fire”, said Chang. “I have fasted for 3 months”, said Cheng. The following morning they started out as per the master’s instructed route and reached Gandarva Sarovar. They set up a small fire and camped on its bank. In the morning when they woke up, the fire had died and it was bitterly cold. Wang being a bit lazy decided to skip the dip into the lake. The other two were shivering and their bodies were cold as a rock when they came out of the lake. Wang laughed at their plight, “Use your sense, and don’t just follow all that the old man said blindly”. Within a few minutes they were deep into the swamp and a swarm of mosquitoes and flies were circling around Wang. The heat of his body and the sweat attracted the insects like magnets and they bit him furiously all over the body. The numb cold bodies of the other too allowed them to escape undetected and it was their turn to laugh. By the time they crossed the swamp, Wang had developed a severe fever and could no longer walk. He told his brothers, “Please leave me to my fate under this tree and proceed. If I survive, I will retrace my steps to the monastery. Alas!! The might Wang who could tear apart a lion met his inglorious end in the hands of some little insects”.
As they proceeded, Chang who was a sensitive person grieved over his brother’s situation and forgot his breath. On the third day when they reached the ice clad mountains, he started feeling dizzy. His face was swollen and he had palpitations. He told Cheng, “You should now proceed without me. Take all the food we have and offer my humble salutations to the land of Buddha”. Cheng, being the strongest continued the journey alone and crossed the mountains on the fifth day and reached a dense forest. He calculated that he had more food than needed and left behind some packets every time he rested to reduce his burden. A bear caught his scent and killed him in the night when he was sleeping on a tree. Nansen turned his page over and continued writing his book.
