The Bodhisatta and the Ascetic King: True Happiness

In a time long ago, the Bodhisatta was born as an ascetic in the vast Himalayas. He was known far and wide for his wisdom and compassion, and many followers gathered around him to study the teachings of the path to enlightenment. Each year, during the rainy season, the group would leave the wilderness and take refuge in the royal park of a nearby city, where they were cared for by the king. These visits allowed the Bodhisatta and his disciples to rest, engage with the community, and teach the people the path to true peace and happiness.

As time passed and the rainy season ended, the Bodhisatta, now quite elderly, decided to remain in the city for the rest of his days. The rest of his followers, however, continued their journey back to the wilderness. One day, the eldest of his disciples, who had once been a king before choosing the path of renunciation, returned to the city to visit his old teacher. This disciple had long ago given up the trappings of royalty, seeking peace in simplicity and spiritual growth.

As the two ascetics conversed, the king arrived at the Bodhisatta’s dwelling. As was customary, the king expected respect and deference, and when he entered, he noticed the eldest ascetic lying on his mat, unmoving and deeply immersed in his thoughts. Instead of rising to honor the king, as was the expected form of respect, the ascetic softly murmured to himself, “Oh, happiness, oh happiness…”

The king, observing this behavior, was filled with anger and disapproval. He scolded the ascetic for not showing the respect due to a king. At this, the Bodhisatta, ever wise, gently intervened and explained the situation. “This ascetic, too, was once a king, much like yourself,” he said. “He lived a life surrounded by luxury, power, and fear. His every moment was dictated by desire and the need to protect himself from enemies. But now, through his spiritual practice, he has found a happiness that surpasses any joy he ever experienced in his royal life. No longer a slave to his desires, he has become free from the fear that once ruled him.”

The Bodhisatta’s words sank deeply into the king’s heart. He realized that the ascetic, who had once lived in constant fear and luxury, was now truly free, having attained peace through insight and detachment. The king left the Bodhisatta’s dwelling that day with a new understanding of what true happiness meant—freedom from attachment, desire, and the fears that come with worldly power.

Moral:

The story of the Bodhisatta and his former royal disciple offers a profound lesson about the nature of happiness. The ascetic, once a king, had everything that wealth, power, and status could offer. Yet, despite living in a palace surrounded by guards, he was filled with fear and anxiety, trapped by his own desires and the need to protect his position. Only after renouncing his former life of luxury did he experience true freedom—the freedom from desire, fear, and attachment. The Bodhisatta’s lesson teaches us that happiness does not come from external circumstances, but from within. True happiness is found in letting go of attachments, cultivating inner peace, and attaining wisdom.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

In the time of the Buddha, the disciple who visited the Bodhisatta in the city was revealed to be an earlier incarnation of one of the Buddha’s most trusted disciples. In his former life as a king, he had lived in constant fear, even though he was surrounded by guards and protected by the wealth of his kingdom. Despite all his material security, he was never free from anxiety and fear. But after renouncing his royal life, he found peace as an arahant, no longer bound by fear or desire.

As an arahant, he traveled through the wilderness without fear, knowing that the real dangers were the desires and attachments that bind the mind. Overwhelmed with joy, he would sometimes exclaim, “Oh, happiness, oh happiness,” as he realized the profound peace he had gained. When some of the other disciples overheard his joyful exclamation, they mentioned it to the Buddha. The Buddha then shared the story of the ascetic king to show his disciples that the happiness this arahant experienced was not new, but the result of his past renunciation and the wisdom he had cultivated over many lifetimes.

Moral:

This story highlights the power of renunciation and spiritual practice in freeing the mind from fear, desire, and suffering. It teaches that worldly possessions and power cannot provide true happiness, which is only found through inner peace, wisdom, and the liberation from attachment. The happiness experienced by the ascetic king, and later by the disciple in the Buddha’s time, is a result of letting go of worldly concerns and embracing the freedom that comes from spiritual awakening. True joy is the joy of the liberated heart, untouched by the fears and desires that govern the ordinary world.