What is highest perfection?

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There was a great sage in India called Vyâsa. He was a holy man. Himself, his father, grandfather, great-grandfather - all of them tried to lead a life of highest perfection. But all of them failed. Vyasa's son - Shuka, was born perfect. He taught his son all wisdom and knowledge and finally sent him to the court of King Janaka, who was considered as a perfected being.

Shuka was sent to be taught by king Janaka. The king knew that Vyasa's son was coming to him to learn wisdom; so he made certain arrangements beforehand. When the boy presented himself at the gates of the palace, the guards simply ignored him.

They just gave him a seat and he sat there for three days and nights. Nobody even spoke to him or even asked who he was. He was the son of a very great sage who was honoured by the whole country and Shuka himself was a highly respectable person. Despite all this, the guards of the palace didn't even notice him.

After three days, suddenly the ministers of the king and all the big officials came there and received him with greatest honours. They welcomed him and gave the most beautiful rooms, finest clothes etc. For eight days they provided him with all kinds of luxury equivalent to that of a King. But the calm and peaceful face of Shuka did not even change to the smallest extent by this change in the treatment. He was the same in the midst of highest luxury, as when he was waiting at the gate where nobody cared him.

Then he was taken to king Janaka. The king was on his throne, loud music was playing, most beautiful dancers were dancing and other amusements were going on in his court. The king gave him a cup of milk, full to the brim and asked him to go seven times round the hall without spilling even a drop.

The boy took the cup and proceeded in the midst of loud music, dance and the attraction of the beautiful faces in the court. As desired by the king, he went round seven times and not a single drop of the milk was spilled!

When he brought back the cup to the king, the king said to him, "There is nothing more for me to teach you. You have already mastered the art of self-control"

Shuka's mind could not be attracted by anything in the world, unless he allowed it to affect him. Thus the man who has practiced control over himself cannot be acted upon by anything outside. There is no more bondage for him. His mind has become completely free. Such a man will lead a blissful life forever.

[Extracted from Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda - Volume 1 / Karma Yoga / Chapter 6 : Non Attachment is complete self-abnegation]

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