Balance in Action: The Jataka Story of the Lazy Turtle

Once upon a time, the Bodhisatta served as a wise advisor to a king who, unfortunately, was known for his laziness. Despite his position, the king lacked the motivation to fulfill his duties, and the Bodhisatta sought a way to encourage him to become more active.

One day, while the two of them were in the royal park, the king spotted a turtle for the first time. Curious, he asked the Bodhisatta, “What kind of creature is that, and what does it do?” The Bodhisatta explained, “Though turtles spend their whole lives walking, they are so lazy that they only manage to move a couple of inches each day.”

The king, amused, then asked the turtle, “What would you do if a forest fire broke out?” The turtle responded calmly, “I would try to find a hole in the ground or a tree to shelter in and wait for the danger to pass.”

The Bodhisatta then spoke to the king, “This is a lesson. Those who rush when they should rest, and those who rest when they should hurry, end up harming their own well-being.” He continued, “True wisdom lies in knowing when to take action and when to be patient.”

After hearing this profound advice, the king realized the importance of balancing effort and rest. He stopped his lazy habits and began to rule his kingdom with renewed vigor.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha
In the Buddha’s time, the turtle was an incarnation of one of his disciples, a monk who had become very lazy after taking his vows. He no longer studied, preached, or engaged in spiritual practices, spending most of his days lounging in idleness. When the other disciples spoke of this monk’s laziness, the Buddha shared the story of the turtle to show that even in past lives, this disciple had exhibited similar behavior.

Moral:
Balance is the key to success. Knowing when to act and when to rest is essential for maintaining well-being and achieving one’s goals.