This is a story called "The Golden Deer." There are a lot of "golden" stories inside (Master refers to the book She is reading from) but I just picked this one. I don't know why; maybe I like deer. This is the story of one of the Buddha's previous births. When you hear of anything being "golden," it refers to the Buddha. So I have no need to try and introduce it.

A long time ago, there was a very wealthy businessman who lived in Benares. He had only one son whose name was Mahadanaka Ananda. This means a person who knows only money. This is a very bad name. Because "Ananda" means bliss. So perhaps he derived bliss only from money, or perhaps it was a nickname.

Since the time he was young, his parents spoiled him very much, because he was the only son. So he grew up with no knowledge except that of singing, dancing, feasting and making merry with his friends with money from his parents. And when he came of age, his parents found a wife for him. Then shortly afterwards, they died. And after their death, the youth spent all his time with his idle good-for-nothing companions, passing whole days drinking and gambling.

As a result, his father's money quickly vanished, and the young man was forced to borrow money from other people, but he had no means of repaying his debts. He never knew how to work to earn money, and he never knew how to keep it. Perhaps he wasn't taught how to be economical. Perhaps his parents were at fault too, because they should have taught him how to be a human being, and not just how to be the son of a wealthy person.

So because he owed a lot of money to different people, they constantly came to his house and pressed him. He became very desperate with fear and worry and did not know what to do. Finally, he decided upon a plan of action. He was very, very depressed and desperate, so he called all his creditors and told them that he had a treasure buried near the bank of the Ganges. And if the next day they would come with him, they could all go and look together for the treasure. And then he would repay all his debts to them.

So all the creditors were very happy and followed him to the river's bank. He tried searching here and there, and everyone followed him, even though he seemed perplexed as to what he was doing. But this guy intended to commit suicide; all this was just for show. So when he came to a place in the river with a very fast current, he just jumped in. All the creditors were very horrified and helplessly stood by. No one dared rescue him because the water was very swift.

When they saw that he was completely gone, all the creditors sadly returned home. They thought he was dead and drowned. Because he had been swept away very, very far in a very swift current. And they didn't see him anymore downstream; therefore they left. But when his unconscious body flowed down the river, he passed by a flowering grove and mango tree forest. And a deer that was very beautiful and fleet footed lived there, away from the rest of the deer herd. His skin shone like burnished gold, and his feet looked as if they were polished with lacquer. His horns were like spirals of silver, and his eyes glittered like precious gems.

He was nibbling some tender grass roots when he heard wild cries echoing through the forest. Running down to the river's edge, he saw the unfortunate merchant's son struggling in the water. At once he called out, "Wait! Do not be afraid! I am coming to save you." So he plunged into the river, and swimming strongly against the current, reached the man. Then the deer put the man on his back and brought him safely back to shore.

But the merchant's son was very exhausted, and collapsed. For three days and nights, he was unconscious, and the deer nursed and fed him with wild fruit. When the man recovered, the deer said to him, "Now I will lead you out of the woods and show you the road to Benares. But I ask you one favor. Please don't tell the king or any of his nobles that a golden deer lives in this forest. Because they will come here and try to catch me if they know." So the merchant's son readily promised, and the deer put him on the road to Benares.

That morning, Queen Kama, wife of the king of Benares at that time, had a dream. In the dream, she saw a golden deer speaking in a human voice. She thought to herself, "Surely there must be such an animal. Otherwise I would not have dreamt about it." So she went to the king, Brahmadatta. She told him about her dream and that she desired to possess such an animal. Otherwise, she would die.

This is a trick of the woman. She would die sooner or later anyhow, so what's the big deal? But the king, like most men on this planet, was also very stupid. (Laughter) He was very afraid of his wife, that maybe she would really die. If she died for the king it would be very understandable. But if she died for a deer, however golden it was, it just sounded funny. (Laughter) But the king bought it. Anyhow, that's just to let you know that you are not the only ones who are so stupid, and who the real boss in the house is. Even in Buddha's time it was the same. So I don't know why the women of today are wasting their time, demonstrating and giving speeches for all kinds of women's rights and women's equality. Women have never been equal to men. They are superior to men! I don't know who should be fighting for equality. So tell all these stupid women to stop it. Don't degrade us. We are superior; what are they fighting about equality for? (Laughter)

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