The Bodhisatta’s Compassion: A Jataka Tale on Grief, Attachment, and Wisdom

In a distant past, the Bodhisatta was born as a god in heaven. Before this, he had lived on earth as the son of a wealthy Brahmin. Tragically, he died young, passing away as a teenager. His father, overwhelmed by grief, could not bear the loss and chose to walk around his son’s ashes in the cemetery, neglecting his duties and refusing to move on. The Bodhisatta, seeing the depth of his father’s sorrow, wanted to offer comfort. He descended to the earth in the form of a young man and began crying loudly by the cemetery, in an effort to draw his father’s attention.

The father, hearing the cries, asked the young man why he was lamenting. The Bodhisatta responded that he had lost the wheels of his golden chariot. The father, eager to help, promised to find him a new set of wheels. But the Bodhisatta replied that he wanted the sun and the moon to serve as his wheels. The father, baffled, told him that such a request was foolish, as those were things that could never be attained.

The Bodhisatta, however, gently pointed out that at least he was longing for something visible, something real, whereas the ghost of a dead person—his son’s spirit—was unseen and could not be grasped. The father, struck by this insight, realized the emptiness of his grief. His sorrow, tied to the unattainable, was rooted in his attachment to the past. With newfound clarity, he thanked the young man for easing his pain and helping him understand that dwelling on the lost could never bring peace.

At that moment, the Bodhisatta revealed his true identity and urged his father to live a virtuous life for the remainder of his days. Grateful for the wisdom, the father vowed to follow the path of righteousness, letting go of his sorrow and embracing a life of virtue.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

When the Buddha learned that a landowner’s son had died, leaving his father in deep despair, he recognized the man’s emotional turmoil. The father had withdrawn from life, refusing to eat, bathe, or even visit the Buddha. The Buddha, understanding that the man was ripe for a spiritual breakthrough, went to his home after completing his alms round. He recited this story to the grieving father, explaining that nothing in life can bring back what is lost, and that grieving over the unattainable only causes more suffering.

The father, hearing the tale and reflecting on its message, understood the futility of his grief. With the Buddha’s guidance, he found peace and was able to overcome his sorrow.

Moral:

This Jataka teaches that grief rooted in attachment to the past is ultimately unproductive. True peace comes from accepting loss, understanding that nothing in life can be regained once it is gone. The story also highlights the importance of wisdom and virtue in overcoming emotional suffering. Just as the father learned to let go of his attachment and embrace a righteous life, we too can find healing by focusing on the present and the path to moral and spiritual growth.