Atthisena Jataka: The Wisdom of Simplicity

The Atthisena Jataka tells the story of the Bodhisatta, who in his past life was an ascetic living alone in the Himalayas. One day, he descended to a nearby city to collect salt and vinegar. While there, he stayed overnight in the royal park. The following morning, the king noticed the Bodhisatta collecting alms and, impressed by his calm and dignified demeanor, invited him to the palace for a grand meal.

During their conversation, the king was so moved by the Bodhisatta’s wisdom and virtue that he offered to fulfill any request the ascetic might have. However, the Bodhisatta, true to his nature, asked for nothing. This refusal puzzled the king, especially since many others constantly made demands of him. Curious, the king asked the Bodhisatta to explain why he had rejected such a generous offer.

The Bodhisatta explained that while it was not wrong for ordinary people to ask for things, such behavior could cause unnecessary conflicts. Begging, he said, could create divisions between people, especially if not done with the right intentions. The king responded that asking for things in the right way and at the right time would not cause harm. He again insisted that the Bodhisatta accept a gift.

The Bodhisatta agreed that this might be true for ordinary people but emphasized that for religious individuals like himself, it was best to live a pure and simple life, free from worldly desires. Despite the king’s insistence, the Bodhisatta refused any material gift. Finally, the king offered a thousand of his finest cows, but the Bodhisatta, undeterred, repeated that he preferred to live without possessions and attachments.

The Bodhisatta’s message deeply impacted the king. Inspired by his teachings, the king chose to live a life of righteousness and generosity, giving up material desires and living a life of virtue and simplicity for the rest of his days.

Moral of the Story:
The Atthisena Jataka teaches that true contentment is found not in material wealth or possessions but in living a simple, unencumbered life. It highlights the importance of renouncing worldly desires and living with purity of heart. The Bodhisatta’s refusal to accept any gifts from the king serves as a reminder that happiness and peace come from within, not from external possessions.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:
In the Buddha’s time, some of his disciples became so demanding and persistent in their requests for quarters and alms that they began to annoy the townspeople. Whenever the townspeople saw the disciples coming, they would avoid them. Maha Kassapa, one of the Buddha’s closest disciples, found it difficult to receive alms due to this behavior.

At mealtime, other disciples explained why the townspeople were avoiding them, and Maha Kassapa went to discuss the matter with the Buddha. The Buddha called an assembly of his disciples and criticized their thoughtlessness. He reminded them that, in a past life, he had lived by the example of the Bodhisatta in the Atthisena Jataka—refusing to ask for anything, even from a generous and willing king, out of a desire to live simply and without attachment.

The king in this story was revealed to be an earlier birth of Ananda, another of the Buddha’s top disciples. This story helped the disciples understand the importance of humility and simplicity in their practice.