Bodhisatta and Ogresses: A Tale of Mindfulness and Wisdom

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was once the youngest of a king’s one hundred sons. One day, when some private Buddhas (those who reach enlightenment on their own and do not teach the path to others) were eating at the palace, the Bodhisatta asked them if he would ever become king. They replied that it would never happen in his current city but suggested that if he could journey to Taxila, a city two thousand leagues away, he would become king there.However, the route to Taxila was fraught with danger, inhabited by ogresses who enchanted men with their beauty and charm before eating them. Undeterred, the Bodhisatta believed he had the power to resist these temptations. He received a charmed thread and some charmed sand from the private Buddhas to aid him on his journey and set out, saying goodbye to his family.Five royal courtiers, who respected the Bodhisatta greatly, insisted on joining him despite the stern warnings of the danger ahead. As they walked, one by one, these men were ensnared by the ogresses’ temptations and lagged behind to indulge their pleasures. All five were eventually killed and eaten by the ogresses.One ogress followed the Bodhisatta, pretending to be his wife and telling everyone they met that they were a married couple. When the Bodhisatta explained that she was actually a murderous ogress, she replied that he was only saying this because he was angry with her. Due to her charm, everybody believed her instead of the Bodhisatta.When they reached Taxila, the king was so smitten by the ogress’s beauty that he ignored the Bodhisatta’s warning and invited her to stay in the best room in his palace. That evening, after the king fell asleep, the ogress rushed back to her city and returned with all the other ogres. They devoured every person and animal in the palace, leaving nothing but bones behind.In the morning, when the people broke down the palace doors and saw the carnage, they realized the Bodhisatta had been right and that the woman was indeed an ogress. Because the Bodhisatta had been the only one to resist her charms, they knew he must be a noble, steadfast, and wise person. Therefore, they made him their king, and he ruled with righteousness and charity for the rest of his life.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

This tale has a significant connection to the Buddha’s later life. While giving his disciples a lesson on mindfulness, the Buddha told a parable of a man forced to carry a pot of hot oil in front of a large crowd that was watching the most beautiful woman in all the land singing and dancing. A man with a drawn sword followed behind him, and if even a single drop of oil spilled, the man carrying the pot would be beheaded. The Buddha said the pot represented a person’s state of mind regarding their body, and people should practice right mindfulness about this as carefully as the man concentrated on carrying the pot.When one of his disciples stated that it was very difficult for the man to not be distracted by the woman, the Buddha corrected him and said having an executioner escort made it easy. Then he told this story of the Telapatta Jataka to illustrate that he had once had to preserve right mindfulness during a similar task without any assistance.

Earlier Births

The royal courtiers who died in the story were earlier births of the Buddha’s disciples, highlighting the recurring theme of the Bodhisatta’s interactions with his followers across different lifetimes.

Moral

The Telapatta Jataka teaches us about the importance of mindfulness, self-control, and wisdom. The story emphasizes that true strength and leadership come from resisting temptations and staying focused on one’s goals. The Bodhisatta’s ability to resist the ogresses’ charms serves as a model for how to maintain right mindfulness and avoid distractions, even in the face of great danger. This tale underscores the Buddhist principle of cultivating mindfulness and self-discipline to achieve spiritual and worldly success.