Bodhisatta and Elephant: Overcoming Fear with Wisdom

In a distant past, the Bodhisatta was born as a tree fairy, living amidst the peace and serenity of the forest. One day, he witnessed a heart-wrenching event: a young elephant, captured by the king’s men, was tied to a post and tortured by the mahouts using metal hooks as part of its training. In agony, the elephant managed to break free, escaping into the wilds of the Himalayas. However, the freedom it sought brought no peace. Living in constant fear of danger, the elephant became terrified by even the slightest sound—the wind rustling through the trees, the call of a bird—each noise sent it into a frenzy, convinced that death was near.

The Bodhisatta, witnessing the elephant’s plight, approached it with compassion. He understood that for the elephant to find peace, it would need to overcome its paralyzing fear. “You must face your fears,” he told the elephant gently, “if you are to find true happiness.” At last, the elephant listened to the wise words of the Bodhisatta and, with time, learned to quell its panic and live with greater calm and courage.

The Buddha’s Teaching

In the time of the Buddha, a disciple came to him, suffering from a deep, irrational fear of death. Even the smallest sounds—a bird calling, the wind blowing—would cause him to shriek and flee, gripped by terror. The Buddha, recognizing the connection to a past life, told the disciple the story of the young elephant. The disciple, he revealed, had once been the same terrified elephant in a former life, living in constant fear. By hearing the Buddha’s words and reflecting on this past, the disciple was able to understand his fears more deeply and, just like the elephant, begin to overcome them.

This tale from the Dubbalakattha Jataka teaches us that fear, while deeply ingrained, can be confronted and overcome with wisdom and courage. By understanding the roots of our fears, we can free ourselves from their grip and find peace.