The King’s Lost Treasure: A Story of Attachment and Wisdom

In a time long ago, the Bodhisatta served as a wise advisor to a king. After conquering a neighboring kingdom, the king seized its vast riches and buried them in iron pots within his royal park. Meanwhile, the defeated king’s son managed to escape and became an ascetic, gathering a band of five hundred followers. Eventually, they embarked on an alms pilgrimage that brought them to the Bodhisatta’s city.Unaware of the prince’s true identity, the king welcomed the ascetics with respect and offered them gifts, inviting them to stay in his park as long as they wished. The prince possessed a special spell for locating buried treasure and decided to use it to reclaim his father’s stolen wealth. Confident in his plan, he revealed his identity to his followers and proposed they join him on this quest. They all agreed.That night, they dug up the pots containing the treasure, replaced the riches with grass, and reburied them before fleeing. With the stolen treasure in hand, the prince returned to reclaim his father’s former kingdom. He used the wealth to fortify the city, making it nearly impregnable.Upon learning about the prince’s actions, the Bodhisatta’s king fell into despair, wandering about muttering “grass, grass, grass.” Recognizing that he alone could help alleviate the king’s troubled mind, the Bodhisatta inquired about the significance of this word. After hearing the entire story, he advised the king that what he had lost was never truly his to begin with and urged him to let go of his sorrow. Taking this wisdom to heart, the king resolved to rule righteously from that day forward.

The Buddha’s Reflection

In later years during the Buddha’s lifetime, it was revealed that the prince was an earlier incarnation of a stubborn disciple of the Buddha. To help him improve his attitude and understanding of loss and attachment, the Buddha recounted this story from his past life.Moral: This tale teaches us that true wealth lies not in material possessions but in wisdom and righteousness. It emphasizes that clinging to what is not rightfully ours leads to suffering and despair. By letting go of attachments and embracing a mindset of generosity and virtue, we can cultivate inner peace and fulfillment. Understanding this principle helps us navigate life’s challenges with grace and compassion, fostering a more harmonious existence for ourselves and those around us.