Bodhisatta’s Wisdom: Choosing Spiritual Fulfillment Over Power

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was born as the son of the king’s chaplain. He grew up alongside the crown prince, and the two were very close friends. As they matured, the Bodhisatta knew that when the prince ascended to the throne, he would be asked to take over his father’s role as the royal chaplain. However, the Bodhisatta had no desire for such a life. He preferred the simplicity and peace of solitude, so he chose to leave the palace and become an ascetic, retreating to the Himalayas.

After some time, the king, now on the throne, decided that the Bodhisatta should serve as the royal chaplain in place of his father. The king sent his messengers to bring the Bodhisatta back to the city and fulfill this important role. However, when the messenger found the Bodhisatta, he refused to return, saying that even if the king offered him the position of a universal monarch, he would not abandon his ascetic life. The Bodhisatta had found a deep inner peace in his holy life and had no desire for worldly power or prestige.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In the Buddha’s time, a disciple of the Buddha, while out on his morning alms round, saw a woman so beautiful that he immediately fell in love with her. Upon returning to the monastery, he became distracted and depressed, longing for his previous life before he had renounced worldly pleasures. The Buddha, noticing his distress, addressed the disciple, explaining that the religious life leading to salvation was far superior to a worldly life. To emphasize his point, the Buddha told this story of the Bodhisatta, illustrating the wisdom of choosing spiritual fulfillment over worldly desires.

The king and the messenger from this story were later reborn as two of the Buddha’s most revered disciples, Ananda and Sariputta, both known for their dedication to the Buddha’s teachings.

Moral: This story teaches the importance of spiritual resolve and detachment from worldly desires. The Bodhisatta’s refusal to return to royal life demonstrates the strength of his commitment to a higher purpose, showing that true peace and happiness lie not in power or wealth, but in simplicity and spiritual discipline. It also highlights the Buddha’s teachings that true fulfillment comes from following the path of righteousness, free from attachment to fleeting worldly pleasures.