Nagkumar, a young Jain monk, loved lotuses. He would spend hours sitting next to the lotus pond admiring them. One day when he was thus engaged a lotus spoke to him.
“I was,” she said, “a princess in my past life. Very tall, beautiful and deep voiced. I was loved by all. I was always adorned with diamonds – on my chest, forehead and ears. One day a thief came, cut my throat and took away my diamonds. And I was reborn as this lotus.”
“Can I help you turn to a princess again?” asked Nagkumar.
“As far I know only the Sun can help in this matter,” said the lotus.
Nagkumar bid adieu to the lotus and started on this mission to ask the Sun to help. The path of the solar orb was difficult for Nagkumar and the heat burnt his body completely. But none the less he persisted in his journey for he wanted to help the lotus. When he finally reached, the Sun was surprised to see him – completely burnt, in severe pain but still smiling. The Sun extended his hand and immediately healed Nagkumar. Nagkumar then told the Sun about the purpose of the visit – to turn the lotus back into the princess she once was. The Sun said he will help and they both went to the Lotus pond, this time in the Sun’s comfortable chariot. The Sun turned the lotus into the lovely princess she once was and this made Nagkumar very happy. He had thus helped the lotus.
Touchstone Alice 