Alexander and Diogenes: “Then what?”

Diogenes was a cynic in the Greek world. To translate to Indian understanding he was a sadhu. Someone who had given up worldly pleasures including all of his material things and moved around aimlessly with nothing but a bowl to drink water from.

The purpose of his exercise was to see if he has nothing then what will death really take away from him?

And Alexander the Great was a great emperor who conquered many empires in his time. His ambitions were far and wide.

On his way to India, he passed by where Diogenes lived. It is said that Alexander had an immense urge to meet him. Osho, in his book, says this is because opposites attract always.

So Alexander sent messengers to speak to Diogenes.

The servants said, “Alexander the Great wishes to see you.”

Diogenes responded, “Why? And who calls him that? Does he himself? Then tell him I am Diogenes the dog and I do not wish to see him.”

Alexander still went ahead to see Diogenes

Alexander said, “Diogenes I am a great emperor. Ask anything of me and I shall give it to you.”

Diogenes responded, “You are blocking the sun, just move aside.”

Diogenes then went on to say, “I hear you are going to win the whole world, so I thought, I closed my eyes and thought, ‘Okay! If I have won the whole world, then what?’ This has been my problem constantly: if I have won the whole world, then what?”

Alexander, after hearing this, became very sad. “Then what?” he said to Diogenes. “Do not talk such things. You make me very sad.”

Diogenes said, “But you will become very sad when you win the whole world. What can I do? I am just imagining, and I have come to conclude that this is useless. You are making a suicidal effort. You yourself are trying to win the whole world – so then what? If you succeed, then what?”

This made Alexander quite sad and he never forgot his encounter with Diogenes.

It is furthermore said in another version of this story that while Alexander was leaving someone asked him what he thought of Diogenes. He said, “Well, if I wasn’t Alexander the Great then I would have wanted to be Diogenes.”

The point of this story isn’t to put down Alexander and his ambitions. It is to understand that whatever we do we must ask “then what?” or question our goals regularly.

It is also not to deride Alexander in any way. He was a man of honour who had violence which was projected outside. Diogenes also had violence which he projected on himself. That is the only difference between them.

P.S. FULL credit of the above story, lesson etc goes to the book I am reading by Osho called the book of secrets. Highly recommended to anyone who is as curious about life and humanity.