The Golden Deer: A Tale of Compassion and Sacrifice

In a time long ago, the Bodhisatta was born as a magnificent golden deer. His coat was a perfect hue of gold, and his form was flawless, earning him the admiration of all who saw him. He was the leader of a large herd of deer, and he had a close friend, Sakha, who led another herd. Sakha, too, was a golden deer, just as perfect in appearance as the Bodhisatta. The two herds roamed the vast forest, living in peace.

However, the king of the region enjoyed hunting, and every day he would take his subjects into the forest to track and capture animals. The people of the kingdom despised this disruption to their lives, for the king’s hunting parties would often roam through their villages, disturbing the peace. In their frustration, the people decided to encircle a vast stretch of forest, driving both the Bodhisatta’s and Sakha’s herds into the king’s gated park. They informed the king of their actions, suggesting that he might eat the deer instead of pursuing them in the forest. The king, upon seeing the two beautiful golden deer, agreed to spare them for the time being and granted them immunity from death.

Though the king had promised them protection, the hunting did not stop entirely. Some days, the king would personally hunt the deer, but more often, he sent his cook to do so. Each time the cook arrived, the deer would flee in terror. Despite their best efforts to escape, it often took two or three arrows to finally bring down one of them. The Bodhisatta, unable to stop the hunting, was deeply troubled by the suffering of his herd. He wanted to find a way to lessen the pain and loss that the deer endured.

With a heavy heart, the Bodhisatta suggested that they adopt a system where one deer would be chosen each day, alternating between the two herds, to offer itself for sacrifice. The deer would willingly lay its neck on the chopping block to spare the others from the agony of being hunted. Sakha agreed to this plan, recognizing it as the only way to end the constant fear and suffering of the herd.

One fateful day, the lot fell to a pregnant doe in Sakha’s herd. She was reluctant to sacrifice herself, as she was carrying a fawn, and she pleaded with Sakha to let her wait until after her baby was born. Sakha, however, was unmoved by her request and insisted that she take her turn. The doe, desperate and fearful, went to the Bodhisatta and begged for his help. The Bodhisatta, moved by her plight, agreed that she should be allowed to wait until her fawn was born.

When the day came for the doe’s turn to sacrifice herself, the Bodhisatta did not hesitate. He stepped forward, lay his own head on the chopping block, and prepared to die in place of the others. The cook, aware of the Bodhisatta’s immunity from death, rushed to inform the king of the situation. The king, upon hearing of the Bodhisatta’s selfless act, hurried to the park to witness what was happening.

When the king arrived, the Bodhisatta explained the situation, sharing the sorrow of the herd and the sacrifice he was making for the well-being of all. Deeply moved by the Bodhisatta’s compassion, the king ordered that the pregnant doe be spared. The Bodhisatta, seeing an opportunity for greater change, asked the king why only the lives of the golden deer should be spared. He urged the king to extend his mercy and compassion to all animals, great and small, and to prohibit the killing of any creatures in his kingdom.

Impressed by the Bodhisatta’s wisdom and compassion, the king agreed to cease the hunting of all animals. The Bodhisatta continued to preach righteousness and justice to the king for several days, and then he led his herd back to the safety of the forest. The doe gave birth to a fawn as beautiful as a lotus bud, and the Bodhisatta instructed the fawn to live in harmony with his herd and to avoid harming human crops.

Moral:

This story teaches the virtues of compassion, self-sacrifice, and righteousness. The Bodhisatta’s willingness to sacrifice his own life to protect the herd reflects the deep selflessness that true leadership requires. Rather than allowing the constant cycle of fear and violence to continue, the Bodhisatta sought a peaceful resolution that spared the lives of the deer, demonstrating that true courage lies not in physical strength, but in the strength of character to act with compassion.

The Bodhisatta’s plea to the king to extend mercy to all animals, not just the deer, teaches us the importance of extending kindness and compassion universally. True leadership, as demonstrated by the Bodhisatta, involves recognizing the interconnectedness of all living beings and acting to protect and preserve life. The king, moved by the Bodhisatta’s wisdom, changes the laws of the land to promote justice and mercy, illustrating that even those in positions of power can learn and grow through compassion and righteous guidance.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

In the Buddha’s time, the Bodhisatta’s story was reflected in the lives of some of his disciples. The pregnant doe and her fawn were revealed to be earlier incarnations of a female disciple of the Buddha and her son. This disciple had long believed that she was in her final life before attaining nirvana and wanted to become a disciple of the Buddha. Though her parents, who loved her dearly, resisted her decision, she was encouraged by her husband, who recognized her deep respect for the Dharma.

The woman eventually took residence under the tutelage of Devadatta, a disciple of the Buddha who would later become his adversary. While there, she discovered she was pregnant, and Devadatta, lacking compassion, expelled her without even inquiring whether her pregnancy had occurred before or after her ordination. Despite his harsh treatment, the woman remained determined and insisted that her case be heard by the Buddha. The Buddha’s wisdom prevailed, and the woman was allowed to remain in the Sangha. King Pasenadi, a righteous ruler, adopted her son, who would later become a disciple of the Buddha, and both mother and son achieved arahantship.

The doe and her fawn were seen as earlier incarnations of this mother and son, showing that the Bodhisatta had once again saved them through his compassion and wisdom. Sakha and his followers represented the earlier incarnations of Devadatta and his followers, while the king was revealed to be an earlier incarnation of Ananda, one of the Buddha’s top disciples.

Moral:

The story of the golden deer not only teaches the value of compassion and self-sacrifice but also illustrates the power of wisdom in transforming lives. The Bodhisatta’s actions show that true kindness transcends individual lives, benefiting not only those immediately around us but also creating a ripple effect of mercy and understanding. Compassionate leadership, as exemplified by the Bodhisatta, is about caring for all beings, big and small, and ensuring that justice and mercy guide our actions.