Bodhisatta’s Wisdom on Desire and Caution

In this Jataka tale, the Bodhisatta was once a merchant who led a caravan of oxcarts on trading expeditions to distant lands. One day, as he and his men journeyed through a dense, dangerous forest, the Bodhisatta warned his men of the demons that lurked along the road. These demons, he explained, often left poisoned food on the path, intending to trap unwary travelers. He instructed his men never to eat anything they found without first consulting him. He cautioned that anyone who ate such poisoned food would die, and the demons would then feast on their corpses.

Despite the warning, as they traveled deeper into the forest, some of the men came upon honeycombs placed carefully on top of leaves. A demon, pretending to search for honey in the trees, walked by them. Seeing this, the men thought the honey was an offering to the spirits from the honey hunter. Ignoring the Bodhisatta’s warning, they ate the honey immediately.

Unfortunately, most of the men who ate the honey died from the poison. However, the Bodhisatta had prepared for such an event. Those who had only eaten a small amount of honey were able to survive by taking medicine from the Bodhisatta, which induced vomiting and helped them purge the poison.

The Bodhisatta used this incident as a lesson for his men, teaching them that indulging in desires and acting without caution can lead to suffering. By avoiding the temptation to act impulsively on their desires, they could have avoided the fatal consequences of the poison. The moral of the story is clear: desire can often be the root cause of misfortune, and exercising restraint and wisdom in moments of temptation is the key to avoiding harm.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In the time of the Buddha, one of his disciples struggled with the temptation of desire and considered leaving the sangha because of the charms of a woman. To guide him, the Buddha recounted this very story, emphasizing how following desires could lead one into ruin. The Buddha used the merchant’s caution as a metaphor for how indulgence in worldly desires could trap a person in suffering.

The Bodhisatta’s role in the story mirrors the Buddha’s teaching, showing how wisdom and self-restraint can help protect one from the negative consequences of uncontrolled desires.

Moral of the Story

This Jataka teaches that following our desires without thought or caution can lead us into dangerous situations, just as the men in the story were poisoned by their unchecked desires for the honey. It also shows that the wisdom of the Bodhisatta, like the Buddha’s teachings, can help guide others through temptation and suffering. The story encourages us to practice self-discipline and to avoid giving in to impulsive desires, as doing so can prevent unnecessary harm and suffering in our lives.