Bodhisatta and the Lion: A Lesson on Blind Trust

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was once a wealthy merchant who owned a herd of cows. During the growing season, his herdsman would take the cows to a forest pasture to protect the fields from being grazed. However, a lion lived near this pasture, and the cows were so afraid of it that they produced very little milk.One day, when the herdsman delivered a very small amount of ghee to the Bodhisatta, he explained the problem with the lion. The Bodhisatta asked if the lion had grown attached to anything, and the herdsman mentioned that the lion was very fond of a particular doe. The Bodhisatta devised a plan to eliminate the lion: he told the herdsman to catch the doe, rub her with a mixture of sugar and poison, and then let her loose. As predicted, when the lion saw his deer friend, he licked her and died from the poison.When the herdsman brought the lion’s hide, claws, teeth, and fat to the Bodhisatta, he used this opportunity to teach a lesson. He explained that people should not trust or have affection for others blindly, as this can lead to ruin.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

This tale has a significant connection to the Buddha’s later life. The Buddha told this story to his disciples to emphasize the importance of being cautious when using food, clothing, and other gifts, regardless of whether they were given by family or strangers. He warned that blind trust could lead to problems in one’s present life and potentially result in rebirth as an ogre or ghost in the next.The Buddha did not identify any earlier births other than his own in this context, focusing instead on the moral lesson and its relevance to the monks’ behavior.

Moral

The Vissasabhojana Jataka teaches us about the dangers of blind trust and the importance of caution in our interactions. The story emphasizes that unwarranted trust or affection can lead to harm, just as the lion’s attachment to the doe led to its demise. The Bodhisatta’s actions serve as a model for how to address problems with wisdom and caution, while the lion’s fate serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of blind trust. This tale underscores the Buddhist principle of mindfulness and the need for discernment in all aspects of life, especially when dealing with gifts or favors from others.In the context of Buddhist teachings, this story highlights the importance of being mindful and cautious, especially in the use of the four requisites (clothing, food, lodging, and medicine), to avoid potential harm and ensure a virtuous life.