The Bodhisatta: A Tale of Wisdom and Fairness

In an ancient kingdom, long ago, the Bodhisatta was known for his wisdom and fairness, serving as the royal appraiser for the king. His job was of great importance: he alone determined the cost of everything that the palace purchased, from food to fine silks. The vendors had no choice but to accept the prices that the Bodhisatta set, and he was known throughout the kingdom for his integrity and impartiality. Under his watchful eye, the palace prospered, and no one questioned the fairness of his appraisals.

However, the king was not as appreciative of the Bodhisatta’s fairness as the people were. His heart was filled with greed, and he found that he could not appreciate the Bodhisatta’s just approach to pricing. Instead of valuing the Bodhisatta’s wisdom, the king grew increasingly frustrated with the notion of fairness, believing it meant the palace was paying too much for goods. Seeking someone who would share his greed and lack of understanding, the king decided to replace the Bodhisatta. But rather than choosing someone skilled in the art of appraising, the king sought someone who would cater to his desires. One day, as he looked out of his window, he noticed a peasant walking by, and on a whim, he decided to appoint the man as the new appraiser. The peasant was utterly unqualified—he was a fool, completely ignorant of the true value of things, and made decisions based solely on whim rather than reason.

One day, the new appraiser was tasked with determining the value of five hundred horses. In a completely unreasonable and foolish decision, he declared that the five hundred horses were worth only one measure of rice. The horse dealer, understandably furious and dismayed, approached the Bodhisatta for advice. The Bodhisatta, always wise and composed, devised a plan to reveal the absurdity of the appraiser’s decision. He told the horse dealer to bribe the appraiser to answer a simple question in front of the king. The question was this: “If five hundred horses are worth one measure of rice, then what is the value of a measure of rice?”

The horse dealer followed the Bodhisatta’s advice, offering the bribe to the foolish appraiser. When the appraiser appeared before the king and his court, he proudly answered the question in front of everyone: “A measure of rice is worth all the city and its suburbs!” The room erupted in laughter at the absurdity of his answer, and the advisors, realizing the appraiser’s incompetence, could not contain their amusement. It was clear that the appraiser and the king were more suited to each other than the king had realized. The laughter continued, and the king, humiliated by the situation, finally understood the true value of fairness and wisdom. He immediately restored the Bodhisatta to his position as royal appraiser.

Moral:

This story highlights the importance of wisdom, fairness, and competence over greed and impulsiveness. The Bodhisatta, with his wisdom and impartiality, had earned the trust and respect of the people, while the foolish appraiser, chosen based on whim and greed, made a fool of himself and the king. The tale serves as a reminder that decisions made without understanding and fairness are not only harmful but also lead to humiliation and disgrace. True wisdom does not act based on personal desires but seeks the greater good and values what is right and just.

This tale also teaches the importance of competence in leadership and governance. A leader who values fairness and seeks out wise counsel, rather than catering to their own selfish interests, will ultimately guide their people toward prosperity. The Bodhisatta’s return to his rightful place as the royal appraiser emphasizes the idea that true wisdom cannot be easily replaced by greed or foolishness. In the end, it is wisdom and fairness that bring lasting success and respect.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

In the time of the Buddha, the foolish appraiser was revealed to be an earlier birth of one of the Buddha’s disciples, Laludayi. Laludayi, like his former self, was not very intelligent and often spoke without thinking, mixing up his words and meaning. This flaw in his character extended to his duties in the monastery, where he was responsible for distributing rice to the monks. The elders were given the best rice, while the younger monks received the lesser portions. Laludayi, being of middle rank, sometimes received the good rice, but other times, he did not. When this happened, he would complain bitterly.

In time, the steward grew tired of Laludayi’s complaints and assigned him the task of distributing the rice himself. However, Laludayi, lacking both wisdom and competence, failed miserably in his role. He was unable to properly manage the distribution and was soon relieved of the duty.

When the Buddha heard of Laludayi’s failure, he shared the story of the foolish appraiser from the past life to illustrate to the monks that Laludayi’s struggles in the present life were not just a result of his current actions but were also a reflection of his past ignorance and lack of wisdom. It was a lesson in understanding how past actions shape the present, and how true wisdom must be cultivated over time.

Moral:

The story of Laludayi serves as a reminder that wisdom is not inherent but must be developed through experience and effort. Just as the foolish appraiser was replaced with the Bodhisatta, Laludayi’s own lack of wisdom in the present life was linked to his past mistakes. The Buddha’s teachings emphasize the importance of cultivating wisdom, humility, and competence, and they teach that we must always strive to learn from our past actions in order to grow and improve.