The Tale of Asanka: Patience, Doubt, and Divine Wisdom

Once upon a time, in the distant peaks of the Himalayas, there lived an ascetic known for his wisdom and compassion. This man, the Bodhisatta, spent his days in quiet meditation, far from the distractions of the world. One day, a miraculous event occurred. A god, born of perfect merit, descended from the heavens and found refuge inside a lotus flower that bloomed near the Bodhisatta’s dwelling. As the days passed, the other lotuses in the area withered and died, but this one remained ever vibrant and pure.

Intrigued by the untouched beauty of the flower, the Bodhisatta approached and discovered a baby girl nestled within its petals. Without hesitation, he named her Asanka, meaning “Doubt,” for there was something mysterious and otherworldly about her presence. He took the child under his care, raising her as his own daughter. As she grew, so did her beauty, until she became known far and wide as one of the most exquisite women in the world.

The King’s Desperate Quest

When Asanka reached the age of sixteen, the mighty Indra, king of the gods, visited the Bodhisatta’s humble dwelling. He was so taken by her beauty that he gifted her magnificent clothes, glittering jewels, and a palace that floated in the sky, a palace unlike anything seen on earth. Soon, word of Asanka’s divine grace spread throughout the land, reaching the ears of a powerful king. The king, entranced by tales of her splendor, decided to make her his queen.

With great fanfare, the king marched to the Bodhisatta’s home, accompanied by his advisors and a large army. He requested that the Bodhisatta give him Asanka in marriage. The Bodhisatta, wise and kind-hearted, agreed but set one condition: the king could not take her until he had discovered her true name. At the king’s insistence, the Bodhisatta gave him a year’s time to guess.

The king was determined, and with his advisors, he began to guess Asanka’s name. They offered many possibilities—Padma (lotus), Chandrika (moonlight), and other names as beautiful and befitting as the princess herself. But each time, they were wrong. Year after year, the guesses continued, but none brought them closer to the truth.

Three Long Years of Struggle

As the seasons passed, the king’s men grew weary and frustrated. The wilds of the forest were no place for an army accustomed to the comforts of the palace. Many perished from snake bites, illness, and hunger. Some fell prey to the beasts of the jungle. Yet the king persisted, his desire for the beautiful princess blinding him to the suffering of his men.

One year passed, then two. But still, the king had not guessed her name. Finally, in despair, the king decided to return home. As he prepared to leave, Asanka, from the window of her floating palace, called out to him. She told him that his search for a bride like her would be in vain, for no woman could compare to her, and he should not give up. She spoke of the gods in heaven, who waited a thousand years for the fruits of a sacred vine, whose juice would intoxicate them for months. Her words, both wise and enchanting, renewed the king’s resolve.

Another Year of Fruitless Efforts

So, the king returned for another year of searching, guessing names with no success. Yet again, he was met with failure, and the king began to doubt whether he would ever find the key to Asanka’s heart. On the brink of abandoning his quest, he set off once more.

But as he walked away from the palace, Asanka called to him again. This time, she spoke of a crane that flew to the top of a hill, wishing to stay there for a day. Indra, the great king of the gods, had diverted a stream to the hilltop so that the crane could eat and fulfill its wish. The crane’s hope was granted, Asanka said, and so too could the king’s wish be fulfilled if he had patience.

Once again, the king stayed for another year, but despite his best efforts, he could not guess Asanka’s name. Exhausted and desperate, he finally turned his back on the palace and began to leave. But this time, as he walked away, he muttered to himself in frustration, “All I have heard from you is promises, no action. We have suffered much, and still, my heart doubts if I will ever find happiness without you.”

The Moment of Realization

It was in that moment, with his words ringing in the air, that Asanka spoke her final words. “You have already said my name,” she told the king. “You have doubted and suffered for so long that the answer was right in front of you all along. The name you seek is Asanka—Doubt.”

At last, the king understood. With newfound clarity, he took Asanka’s hand, and they returned to his kingdom, where they lived in peace and happiness for the rest of their days.

The Moral of the Story

This tale, though filled with mystery and magic, holds a powerful lesson. Patience and perseverance are virtues that can lead to success, but they must be accompanied by wisdom. Sometimes, the answers we seek are already within us, and the greatest obstacle to achieving our desires is our own doubts and impatience.

The Buddha’s Lesson to His Disciple

In the time of the Buddha, one of his young disciples faced a dilemma. He was struggling with the poor food and harsh conditions of the monastic life, and began to long for the comforts of his former life with his wife. One day, the Buddha recounted the tale of Asanka to the disciple, explaining that the suffering caused by doubts and desires had affected the king and his men for three long years. This story helped the disciple realize the consequences of giving in to momentary desires and the importance of patience in spiritual life. With new wisdom, the disciple chose to stay and continue his practice, knowing that true happiness lies not in fleeting comforts, but in the pursuit of enlightenment.

Final Thought

In our lives, like the king, we may encounter challenges that seem insurmountable. The search for answers can feel endless, and frustration may cloud our path. But sometimes, the key to overcoming our struggles is to stop doubting and trust that what we seek is often right before us. Patience, perseverance, and faith in the process will lead us to our answers.