Bodhisatta’s Wisdom: Understanding Impermanence and Grief

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was born as the son of a wealthy merchant. After the death of his parents, his elder brother took over the family estate and managed the business, providing for the Bodhisatta’s needs. However, when his elder brother also passed away, the family and the community were devastated by the loss. People cried aloud, expressing deep sorrow for the death of the man they had loved. But the Bodhisatta, instead of mourning, showed no outward signs of grief.

This lack of emotion confused those around him, and they began to criticize him, assuming that he was secretly glad his brother had died because it meant he would inherit the family wealth. The Bodhisatta, however, calmly explained that they misunderstood the nature of existence. He pointed out that death is inevitable for everyone, and it is the living who should be pitied, for they are the ones who must face the suffering and uncertainty of life. The dead, on the other hand, have already passed beyond this world and cannot suffer any longer.

With his wise words, the Bodhisatta helped the people see the truth of impermanence. Rather than focusing on the sorrow of death, they began to recognize the importance of living wisely, without attachment, because life itself is fleeting. His lesson helped them overcome their sorrow and understand the nature of existence more clearly.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

Many years later, during the Buddha’s time, a certain landowner was so overwhelmed by the grief of losing his brother that he had stopped eating and bathing, withdrawing from the world entirely. Sensing that the man’s grief had made him ripe for a spiritual breakthrough, the Buddha visited him. The Buddha taught the man the same lesson the Bodhisatta had taught in his past life: that all things are impermanent, and we should not dwell on what we have lost, but rather focus on the present moment and the living.

The Buddha then shared the story of the Bodhisatta’s past life as a lesson to help the man understand that mourning the dead was not the way to find peace. After hearing the story, the man had a breakthrough in his understanding of impermanence, and his grief began to fade.

Moral: This story emphasizes the Buddhist teaching of impermanence (anicca). It reminds us that attachment to things, people, and even life itself can lead to suffering. The Bodhisatta’s wisdom shows that we should not lament what we have lost but rather cultivate understanding and acceptance of the transient nature of existence. Grieving for the living, who face the true uncertainties of life, is far more important than weeping over the dead.