Spiritual Teaching through Drama

Eyes of Karras

A powerful, land-hungry Lord, who believes the world's treasures belong only to him, is humbled when a humble young boy teaches him the spiritual lesson that true wealth cannot be purchased with jewels.

Synopsis

Once upon a time in a far country there was a mighty Lord, called Karras. He had much land and a wonderful palace in which he lived. He had many jewels, many wives and many servants, and he was most powerful throughout the land. Karras had all that he would want. There was nought that he could ask for and yet, he always demanded for more. He would hear of wondrous jewels that were for sale and he would send his caravan out to purchase them. He would then adorn his wives and hang the jewels upon the walls of his splendid mansion. He even ate with jewelled forks and knives.

Around the palace was a most magnificent garden and within it was a most beautiful lake. The garden was tended constantly by slaves so that not a leaf was left to lie on the ground. The most splendid flowers and plants were secured for the garden and they grew in abundance. There were majestic trees to give shade from the hot summer, and flowers to gladden the eye of the beholder, while fish swam in the lake.

Within these lands worked a servant of Karras, a good man who had a goodly wife and a small child, a boy named Sikra; and in the way of boys he was a little naughty sometimes. He was always taught, as all the children of the servants were, that if the Lord approached one does not look at anything but his feet. It was forbidden to speak to the Lord unless spoken to first and children were made to go immediately from the sight of the Lord else they would be punished. Not only this, but the Lord would have the father whipped and the family would become poor with nothing to eat. Sikra listened to what was said to him but this little boy liked to make his way to the lake to sit and put his hands in the water. Because he was a very quiet little boy the fish would come up and touch his hand. His father warned him.

“You must not stay there at the lake in case the Lord comes.”

Sikra said he would not.

Then one day he did not get away quick enough and he was caught as Karras entered the garden and came towards the lake. He looked down on this small urchin figure, not too clean and dressed in robes which, although laundered, were very threadbare and very poor. Because he was so poor Sikra wore no shoes upon his feet.

“Get from my garden,” said Karras. “You are ragged, unkempt; you are a blot, a smear, a scar standing within my grounds and my beauty.”

He was given over to an overseer and he was beaten. The Lord then sent for his father who was brought before him bowing down upon one knee.

“Master, it is my son. Please give him your pardon, he meant no harm.”

“Take him then if he is yours,” said Karras. “He looks worthy to be thy son, but if thy child comes once more to my garden then I shall have you banished from my domain.”

So, the father pleaded with Sikra not to go there again, and the boy promised.

It was very sad, but some years after this Karras lost the sight of his eyes. This mighty Lord, Karras the All-powerful, the Magnificent, was struck with blindness. He could no longer see his wonderful jewels and the beautiful women who were his wives. He could no longer see the beauty of the flowers and gaze upon the waters of the lake. He sent throughout the land for all the mighty men versed in the ways of medicine of the day. He offered them untold wealth, great treasures, great buildings if they would restore his sight. But alas, it was no good. He remained blind. He just sat and he was very mournful.

Then, one day, he told his servant to take him to the lake and sit him there.

“Begone!” he said. “I would sit on my own.”

Karras sat and there was not yet sorrow within him, but there was anger. Such anger that it consumed his very being and tore him apart; and he raised his voice and spoke to his God.

“You are afraid to face me, Oh mighty Lord! You have done this to me from thy hidden parts of the heavens because you have not got the courage to face Karras! You have taken from me my sight, the most precious possession, because without it I can not see my jewels, I cannot watch those who labour to see that they do not do me wrong.”

While he was shouting and screaming against his God the little boy crept again into the grounds and came to the lake. Sikra watched Karras waving his arms, shouting those dreadful things against his God and put his hand in the lake and rippled the water....to be continued.