Bodhisatta and the Thieves: A Lesson in Fearlessness and Detachment

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was once an ascetic living in the Himalayas. One time, he descended from the mountains to obtain salt and vinegar and joined a merchant’s caravan for the journey. While the workers of the caravan slept one night, the Bodhisatta engaged in walking meditation.A band of thieves surrounded the camp, waiting for the Bodhisatta to fall asleep before they could sneak in to plunder the wagons. However, the Bodhisatta continued his meditation without stopping, and as dawn approached, the thieves called off their raid.As the thieves left, they threw down their sticks and stones and shouted to the sleeping workers that they should reward the Bodhisatta for saving their cargo. The workers, grateful and still in fear and shock, asked the Bodhisatta if he had seen the thieves. He confirmed that he had, and when they asked if he was afraid, he replied, “No. Only rich people fear thieves, I own nothing of value, so I have no reason to be afraid.”The workers understood the wisdom of his words and showed him great honor for his bravery and selflessness.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

This tale has a significant connection to the Buddha’s later life. A layman who was deeply devoted to the Buddha was traveling with a trade caravan. One night, as he did walking meditation, some thieves surrounded the camp and waited for him to go to sleep. However, the layman did not stop his meditation, and the thieves left empty-handed.When the layman next saw the Buddha, he recounted what had happened. The Buddha commented, “In guarding himself, a man guards others; in guarding others, he guards himself.” Then, the Buddha told this story to illustrate that he himself had once done the same thing in a past life.The caravan workers in the story were revealed to be earlier births of the Buddha’s disciples.

Moral

The Asamkiya Jataka teaches us about the importance of selflessness, bravery, and the wisdom of detachment from material possessions. The story emphasizes that true security comes from within and that one who owns nothing of value has nothing to fear. The Bodhisatta’s actions serve as a model for how to protect oneself and others through mindfulness and meditation. This tale underscores the Buddhist principle of non-attachment and the interconnectedness of personal and communal well-being. By guarding oneself, one also guards others, highlighting the mutual benefit of spiritual practice and self-discipline.