Bodhisatta & Hunter: The Power of Respect and Wisdom

In this past life, the Bodhisatta was the son of a wealthy merchant. One day, he and three of his wealthy friends saw a hunter hauling a freshly killed deer to sell in the town. The boys, intrigued by the sight of the deer, decided they would ask the hunter for some of the meat.

The first boy approached the hunter and said, “Hey, you! Give me a piece of meat!” The hunter, thinking that beggars should be polite, gave the boy a portion of meat, but it was nothing but skin and bone, a meager and unsatisfactory cut.

The second boy, more polite, said, “Oh brother, give me some meat.” In return, the hunter gave him a better piece, a cut of venison on the bone.

The third boy, showing even more respect, said, “Dear father, give me some meat.” The hunter, moved by the boy’s words, gave him the heart of the deer, a prized and tender piece.

Lastly, the Bodhisatta, understanding the value of kindness and respect, approached the hunter and said, “My friend, give me some meat.” The hunter, reflecting on how lonely life would be without friends, decided to offer the Bodhisatta the best part of the deer: the entire rest of the meat.

The Bodhisatta was deeply grateful for this generous gift. He invited the hunter and his family to come live on his land, and they became dear friends, sharing a bond of friendship for the rest of their lives.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In a future life, the hunter was reborn as Sariputta, one of the Buddha’s top disciples, known for his wisdom. One day, a disciple of the Buddha fell ill and needed some oil as a laxative to recover. A group of other disciples went into the town to find some fancy food to aid his recovery, but they were unsuccessful.

When they told Sariputta about their failure, he calmly took them back to the same street and, with his wisdom and charm, was able to secure plenty of fine food for the sick disciple.

The Buddha later heard the disciples discussing how Sariputta had succeeded where they had failed. To teach them a lesson about the power of wisdom and speech, the Buddha told them this story from the past, explaining that Sariputta, even in his previous life as a hunter, had known how to speak in a way that would bring generosity and good fortune.

Moral: This story highlights the value of kindness, respect, and friendship. The hunter’s act of generosity towards the Bodhisatta was not just a response to a polite request but to the recognition of friendship and the understanding of the loneliness that can come with life without companions. The story also teaches that wisdom in speech, as shown by Sariputta, can lead to success where others might fail, demonstrating the power of words and the importance of knowing how to approach others with respect and understanding.