The Ascetic and the Queen: A Lesson in Overcoming Desire

The Tale
In a past life, the Bodhisatta was an ascetic living alone in the Himalayas, surviving on fruits and roots. One day, he traveled to the city to collect salt and seasoning, and he spent the night in the royal park. The next morning, the king, impressed by the Bodhisatta’s peaceful demeanor, invited him to the palace for a grand meal. After they spoke, the king, moved by the Bodhisatta’s wisdom, invited him to stay permanently in the royal park, offering to provide for him. The Bodhisatta agreed and lived there, receiving the king’s care and support for twelve years.

When the king left to quell a rebellion at the border, the queen promised to look after the Bodhisatta. One morning, the Bodhisatta was late to the palace, so in his haste, he flew through the air to reach the window. The queen, startled by his arrival, quickly got up to greet him, but in doing so, her robe slipped off. The Bodhisatta, seeing her naked, was struck with lust. His heart was consumed by desire, and his once-clear insight vanished. He took the food back to his hut but could no longer fly, so he walked in shame. For seven days, he was lost in lust, unable to regain his former clarity.

When the king returned from his campaign, he went to visit the Bodhisatta. He found rotting food covered with flies and was alarmed, fearing the Bodhisatta was ill. The Bodhisatta explained that he was not wounded by an enemy, but had wounded his own heart. He told the king what had happened, how the sight of the queen had overwhelmed him, and how he had fallen from his state of tranquility.

To heal, the Bodhisatta entered a mystic trance and overcame his lust, restoring his insight and inner peace. He then gave the king a final sermon before returning to the Himalayas.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha
In a later life, one of the Buddha’s disciples went out on his morning alms round and saw a beautiful woman. At the sight of her, he was overcome with desire and fell deeply in love. His passion distracted him so much that he lost interest in his studies and meditation. His physical appearance deteriorated, and he became depressed, neglecting his hygiene and duties.

The Buddha, upon hearing of the disciple’s condition, told this story to show that even the most purified individuals must continually work to control their natural passions, as they can still be vulnerable to such temptations.

The king in this story was an earlier birth of Ananda, one of the Buddha’s closest and most revered disciples.

Moral
Even the wisest and most disciplined individuals are not immune to the powerful forces of desire. Overcoming natural passions requires constant vigilance and effort, regardless of one’s spiritual progress. True wisdom lies in recognizing and mastering these impulses, even in moments of weakness.