Gandhara Jataka: The True Path of Renunciation

In the Gandhara Jataka, the Bodhisatta is born as a king who, one evening during a full-moon holy day, witnesses a lunar eclipse. This event causes him to reflect deeply on the transient nature of life and the inevitable decline that all beings face. Just as the moon is obscured by Rahu during the eclipse, the Bodhisatta realizes that he too will eventually experience a decline due to forces beyond his control. With this realization, he renounces his kingdom and embraces a simple life of meditation in the Himalayas, free from the need to control or criticize others.

Meanwhile, another king, who had worked closely with the Bodhisatta, learns of the Bodhisatta’s renunciation through traveling merchants. Inspired by this, he also decides to give up his wealth and power, embarking on his own journey to the Himalayas to become an ascetic.

Eventually, the two former kings meet in the mountains and become close friends. The second king becomes a disciple of the Bodhisatta, serving him as a junior. For a long time, neither speaks of their royal past until another lunar eclipse occurs. The Bodhisatta reflects on the moment of his own renunciation, and the junior ascetic finally realizes who his mentor truly is. The bond between them deepens as they share their stories.

One day, while visiting a village to get salt and vinegar, the villagers are so impressed by the two ascetics that they build huts for them to stay in and bring them food each morning. However, on one occasion, the villagers bring food without salt. The junior ascetic, remembering the salt he had saved from an earlier day, offers it to the Bodhisatta. The Bodhisatta, however, rebukes him, saying that hoarding salt, even after giving up a vast kingdom, is a sign of lingering attachment. He explains that though he had renounced his throne, the junior ascetic’s attachment to the salt indicates he has not fully shed his desires.

The junior ascetic, upset by the rebuke, argues that wise men should avoid speaking harshly and that he had given up his throne to escape the need to issue orders. The Bodhisatta, in turn, explains that his words come from a place of love and righteousness, hoping to help his friend along the path of true renunciation. He compares his guidance to a potter who shapes a vessel even after it has been fired, ensuring it reaches its true form.

Hearing the Bodhisatta’s wisdom, the junior ascetic apologizes, and the two continue their journey as close friends, living peaceful and detached lives in the Himalayas for the rest of their days.

Moral of the Story:
The Gandhara Jataka teaches us that renunciation is not simply about giving up external possessions, but also about overcoming internal attachments and desires. The Bodhisatta’s wisdom shows that true detachment involves controlling one’s desires, even in small things like salt, and cultivating inner peace through love, righteousness, and mindfulness.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:
In the Buddha’s time, one of his top disciples, Pilinda Vaccha, was known for his magical powers. During an alms round, he met a poor girl who was upset because she had no ornaments to wear during a feast day. Pilinda, using his magical abilities, transformed a roll of grass into solid gold, which the girl wore on her head. When the king’s advisors saw the gold, they assumed the girl had stolen it, and the entire family was imprisoned.

Pilinda, hearing of this, visited the king and turned the palace into gold to prove the family’s innocence, resulting in their release. However, Pilinda’s fame led to criticism from the people, who saw him frequently ill and suspected he hoarded medicines. In response, the Buddha created a new rule allowing monks to keep medicine for up to seven days.

The Buddha then told the Gandhara Jataka to show that, like Pilinda, he too had once criticized someone for hoarding in the past. The story was meant to teach that true renunciation requires shedding attachment to not only material wealth but also to habits and desires, whether they be physical or mental.

The junior ascetic in this story is an earlier birth of Ananda, one of the Buddha’s top disciples, who was known for his close relationship with the Buddha and his wisdom.