Bodhisatta’s Patience: Endurance and Inner Peace in Suffering

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was an ascetic who lived alone in the Himalayas. One day, he descended to a city in search of salt and vinegar and decided to rest in the royal park. The next morning, as he went on his alms round, he met the commander-in-chief, who was struck by the Bodhisatta’s calm demeanor and invited him to his home for a meal. The commander promised to support the Bodhisatta during his stay in the park.

At one point, the king, having indulged in wine, came to the park with his dancers and musicians. After falling asleep, the king’s harem went for a walk and encountered the Bodhisatta. They asked him to share some wisdom, and he agreed, giving them a sermon on patience. When the king awoke, furious at the absence of the women, he demanded to know what the Bodhisatta had been teaching. The Bodhisatta calmly explained that he had been preaching about patience and the importance of remaining calm even in the face of insults or abuse.

Angered by this, the king summoned his executioner and ordered that the Bodhisatta be flogged two thousand times with a whip made of thorns. Despite the excruciating pain and the blood flowing from his wounds, the Bodhisatta remained calm and repeated his lesson on patience. The king, determined to test him further, had the Bodhisatta’s hands, feet, nose, and ears cut off, but still the Bodhisatta showed no anger. Instead, he answered that his patience came from within, not from his skin.

Finally, the king kicked the Bodhisatta in the chest and walked away, but as he left the park, the earth split open, and a ball of fire emerged to drag him down to the lowest level of hell, where he would face endless torment.

With the king gone, the commander-in-chief came to the Bodhisatta’s side, tending to his wounds. He asked the Bodhisatta if he felt any anger toward the king, to which the Bodhisatta replied that a pure soul does not hold onto resentment for evil deeds. He died from his injuries later that day.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

One of the Buddha’s disciples struggled with anger and ill-will. The Buddha, wishing to help him overcome these emotions, shared this story, illustrating the power of patience in the face of even the greatest suffering. Upon hearing it, the disciple’s mind was calmed, and he was able to improve his state of mind. Others who heard the story were also inspired to cultivate patience.

The king in this story was an earlier birth of Devadatta, one of the Buddha’s disciples who eventually became his nemesis. The commander-in-chief was an earlier birth of Sariputta, one of the Buddha’s closest and most respected disciples.

Moral: The story teaches the power of patience and inner peace. The Bodhisatta exemplified the ability to endure immense suffering without anger, showing that true patience comes from within, not just a superficial calm. In this life, practicing patience can help overcome internal conflict and prevent destructive emotions from taking hold.