Aditta Jataka: The Power of Thoughtful Generosity

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was a righteous king, beloved by his people for his generosity and fairness. However, he became frustrated when he noticed that his charitable offerings were often received by people who were greedy and unworthy. The king wished to offer a grand donation to those who had truly achieved enlightenment—the private Buddhas, those who had attained Nirvana on their own and did not teach the path to others.

Following the advice of his wise queen, the king decided to make a magnificent offering. He ordered everyone in the city to observe the precepts, purifying the environment for this grand gesture of charity. The king then took a gold box filled with jasmine flowers and, in the palace courtyard, threw seven handfuls of flowers in each direction, inviting the private Buddhas to come and accept his offering.

Miraculously, the flowers traveled to the Himalayas and fell on five hundred private Buddhas who were living in Nandamula Cave. Upon receiving the king’s invitation, seven of the Buddhas flew to the palace, where they were warmly received by the king and queen. For a week, the royal couple honored the Buddhas with gifts and lavish hospitality. When it was time for the Buddhas to leave, each expressed their gratitude, emphasizing the importance of charity and how it can lead to spiritual benefits. The Buddhas returned to their mountain home, and the king’s offering was remembered as a significant act of generosity.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha: King Pasenadi’s Almsgiving

In the time of the Buddha, King Pasenadi of Kosala was a righteous ruler who greatly respected the Buddha and supported his teachings. On one occasion, King Pasenadi made an offering to the Buddha and invited the citizens of his kingdom to witness it. The people, eager to outdo the king’s generosity, responded by making even larger donations. Over the course of six almsgivings, the people surpassed the king each time.

Not wanting to be outdone, Queen Mallika, the king’s exceptionally wise chief queen, took charge of organizing an almsgiving that would be impossible for the people to surpass. She arranged for five hundred of the Buddha’s disciples to sit in a wooden pavilion adorned with golden boats in the center. Five hundred elephants, each holding a white parasol over the disciples, stood as a symbol of honor. High-caste girls waved fans and spread fragrant scents throughout the scene. In addition to all this, the king offered the Buddha everything in his alms hall, along with four priceless objects: a white parasol on a jeweled stand, a couch, a stool, and a footstool.

This grand display of generosity became known as the “incomparable gift.” Afterward, when the Buddha heard his disciples discussing the event, he told them the story of the Bodhisatta’s previous act of generosity in the Aditta Jataka. The Buddha explained that, just as King Pasenadi had carefully planned his gift, the Bodhisatta, in his past life as a king, had also given a thoughtful and remarkable gift to the private Buddhas.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha: The Connection to the Bodhisatta’s Past Life

The story also highlights the connection between the Bodhisatta’s past life as a king and his current life as the Buddha. The Bodhisatta’s queen in his past life was an earlier birth of Queen Mallika, the wise and resourceful queen in the Buddha’s time, who orchestrated the incomparable almsgiving. This link underscores the continuity of wisdom and virtue through different lifetimes.

Moral of the Story:

The Aditta Jataka and the story of King Pasenadi’s almsgiving illustrate that true generosity is not about the size of the gift or the public display of wealth but about the intention and wisdom behind the giving. In both the Bodhisatta’s past life and King Pasenadi’s present life, the generosity shown was thoughtful, purposeful, and free from attachment to ego. The moral is that charity, when given with sincerity and wisdom, is a powerful practice that leads to spiritual benefits and inner peace.

It also highlights the importance of planning and reflection in charitable acts. Queen Mallika’s thoughtful and well-organized gift, along with the Bodhisatta’s previous offering, serve as examples of how generosity can be a means of spiritual advancement, not merely an act of showing off wealth or trying to outdo others. True charity comes from a heart that seeks the well-being of others, not from pride or the desire for recognition.