The Bodhisatta’s Journey: From Fire Worship to Enlightenment

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was a devoted worshipper of the fire god. As he grew older, his parents asked him whether he wished to live a life of devotion in the wilderness, tending to his sacred fire, or settle down in the town as a married man. The Bodhisatta chose the path of religious devotion and moved into a small hut made of branches and leaves deep in the forest, where he lived alone in peace.

One day, after receiving a humble offering of rice and ghee, the Bodhisatta placed the food into his sacred fire as an act of worship. The oil caused the flames to flare up violently, and soon, the entire hut was engulfed in fire. The Bodhisatta ran to safety, helplessly watching as his home burned to the ground. Saddened and disillusioned by the destruction caused by his worship of a wicked god, he realized that his devotion had led to nothing but ruin. He extinguished the fire with water and decided to renounce his former faith.

Determined to seek true enlightenment, the Bodhisatta journeyed deeper into the mountains. There, he witnessed something remarkable: a deer licking the faces of a lion, a tiger, and a panther. This unusual sight taught him a profound lesson about the power of friendship, compassion, and peaceful coexistence, even among natural enemies. With this newfound understanding, the Bodhisatta fully embraced the true path of asceticism, achieving spiritual knowledge and enlightenment. Upon his death, he was reborn in heaven, having found the path to true wisdom and peace.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

Some naked ascetics who still practiced fire worship were seen feeding their sacred flames behind the Buddha’s monastery. One day, the Buddha’s disciples, puzzled by this practice, asked whether any real benefit could come from it. The Buddha replied by telling them the story of the Bodhisatta’s past life, explaining that there was no true spiritual benefit in worshipping a destructive, worldly force like fire.

He reminded them that only through genuine understanding, compassion, and following the true path of wisdom could one achieve enlightenment and spiritual growth.

Moral of the Story: True spiritual progress does not come from blind devotion to destructive forces or empty rituals. The path to wisdom and peace lies in understanding the deeper values of compassion, friendship, and self-realization.