Gautama Siddhartha was the son of the ruler of a small princely state, and when he was born, a yogi predicted that he would either be a great emperor or a great sage. As the world knows, when he grew up, he abandoned his life in the royal home and became a wandering monk. After years of severe ascetic practice, one night he attained supreme liberation, and thenceforth was said to be a ‘Buddha’.

Not long after his liberation, the Buddha walked along the bank of a small river and then sat down under a tree to rest. It happened that an astrologer also came along the riverbank, and noticed some footprints in the sand. This astrologer had learned something of the science of reading hands and feet, and he was astonished to see that these were the footprints of a great emperor – not merely a king but a world ruler.

“Such a great person is here nearby,” the astrologer thought. “How is it possible that a world ruler comes here, to this remote place near the jungle? I must find this great person and offer my salutations.”

Therefore he followed the direction of the footsteps, but to his puzzlement, they seemed to lead to a simple monk sitting under a tree. “Can this be true?” the astrologer thought. “Has my science failed me?” Then he asked the monk, “Who are you?”

“Nobody,” said the Buddha. “I am nobody.”

“But you have the foot of an emperor,” said the astrologer. “You are meant to rule the world.”

“I shall rule the world,” said the Buddha, “but not by conquest.”

The astrologer did not understand. “How can a monk rule the world? You have nothing.”

“I have nothing, and I am nothing,” the Buddha said. “Therefore everything is mine.”