Bodhisatta’s Honesty: A Lesson in Politeness and Respect

In a time long ago, the Bodhisatta was born as the young son of a wealthy merchant. One day, a holiday was declared, and he and his two brothers decided to go out and have some fun, adorned with floral wreaths. They set out for a nearby pond where beautiful lotuses grew and asked the caretaker, a man who had lost his nose, if they could pick some flowers.

The first two brothers, seeking to flatter the caretaker, told him, “If you give us some lotuses, your nose will grow back.” This false promise angered the caretaker, and he refused to give them any flowers. The Bodhisatta, however, spoke honestly, saying, “My brothers are fools; noses cannot grow back. I am simply asking politely for a lotus.” Pleased by his honesty and respectful approach, the caretaker gave him a bunch of lotuses.

The Lesson in the Lifetime of the Buddha

In the time of the Buddha, some disciples who lived in the countryside came to visit him at his monastery. They wished to make an offering under the sacred Ananda’s Bodhi Tree, but when they went to Lotus Street in the city, they could not find any lotuses to purchase. Frustrated, they told Ananda, one of the Buddha’s top disciples, that due to bad luck, they were unable to make their offering.

Ananda, always resourceful, assured them that he would get the lotuses for them. He went to Lotus Street and returned with many handfuls of beautiful flowers. The disciples then made their offerings with great joy and reverence.

When other disciples heard about Ananda’s success, they discussed his good fortune in finding the flowers. The Buddha, hearing their conversation, shared this story of the Bodhisatta’s past to show that he had once encountered a similar situation. The Buddha did not mention any other past lives beyond his own, but used the story to highlight the virtues of honesty and politeness, qualities he himself had exemplified.

Moral of the Story

The Paduma Jataka teaches the importance of honesty, politeness, and respect in our interactions with others. While the Bodhisatta’s brothers sought to deceive the caretaker in order to get what they wanted, the Bodhisatta’s straightforward and polite approach earned him the desired result. His honest request was met with kindness, illustrating that truthfulness and courtesy are powerful virtues.

This story also underscores the significance of making offerings with sincerity and humility. Ananda’s act of procuring the lotuses for the disciples is a reminder that success and good fortune are not solely the result of luck, but can also stem from a virtuous approach to challenges.

The Bodhisatta’s behavior in this story reflects the principles that the Buddha later taught: that kindness, honesty, and respect for others are the foundations of a virtuous life and lead to positive outcomes for all involved.