The Monkey and the Illusion of Human Life

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was a monkey living in the forest. One day, a forester captured him and brought him to the king’s palace, where he was kept as a pet. The Bodhisatta performed tricks to entertain the king, and over time, the king grew fond of him. Pleased with the monkey’s service, the king later instructed the forester to release the Bodhisatta back into the wild, where he had been caught.

When the Bodhisatta returned to the forest, he eagerly shared his experience with the other monkeys. They were curious about life among humans and asked him to tell them all about it. Though the Bodhisatta initially hesitated, the other monkeys insisted, so he began to explain the nature of human life.

He described humans as blind and foolish beings who failed to understand the impermanence of things. They were always clinging to the notion of ownership, constantly crying, “Mine, mine,” and valuing gold while neglecting more important things like religion and morality. He also remarked on the strange customs of humans, noting that one person in every household—without a beard but with long breasts, pierced ears, and braided hair—seemed to plague everyone with their presence.

Horrified by the portrayal of human life, the other monkeys covered their ears and urged the Bodhisatta to stop. They were so disturbed by his words that they immediately fled from the area, unwilling to hear any more about the troubles of human existence.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

One of the Buddha’s disciples had been struggling to conquer his passions, and he became deeply depressed. The Buddha, seeing his distress, told him this story to help him overcome his suffering and to encourage him to let go of worldly attachments. The Buddha reminded the disciple that human beings, much like the monkeys in the story, often struggle with their desires and attachments, but true peace comes from overcoming these distractions.

The monkeys in the Bodhisatta’s story were reborn as some of the Buddha’s followers, and the story was meant to illustrate the foolishness of attachment to the impermanent things of the world.

Moral:

1. The Illusion of Materialism: The Bodhisatta’s depiction of human life as filled with clinging and false attachments reflects the Buddhist teaching on the impermanence of all things. Humans often prioritize material wealth and fleeting desires over spiritual wisdom and inner peace, leading to suffering.
2. The Dangers of Attachment: The monkeys, upon hearing the Bodhisatta’s tale, were so disturbed by the image of human attachment and suffering that they fled. This highlights the truth that attachment to worldly desires causes anxiety and unhappiness.
3. The Wisdom of Detachment: Just as the Bodhisatta returned to the forest and left behind the life of luxury and illusion in the palace, the story encourages detachment from material concerns and worldly distractions. True happiness and peace come from understanding the impermanent nature of the world and focusing on spiritual growth.
4. Overcoming Passions: The Buddha used this story to help his disciple recognize that passions and attachments are temporary and that, by focusing on spiritual practice, one can overcome these desires and attain true contentment.

This story emphasizes that the pursuit of material wealth, the clinging to “mine,” and the attachment to fleeting pleasures ultimately lead to suffering. By overcoming these passions, we can find freedom and inner peace, just as the monkeys found peace in their natural state, free from the distractions of human life.