Bodhisatta’s Wisdom: Protecting Nature and Preventing Harm

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was born as a tree fairy, residing in a neem tree that stood in a cemetery. One day, a thief, fresh from a robbery, sought rest beneath the Bodhisatta’s tree. At that time, if a thief was caught near a neem tree, the tree’s branches would be cut and used to impale the criminal, and the tree would be damaged in the process. Concerned about the fate of his tree, the Bodhisatta warned the thief that the king’s men were pursuing him and advised him to flee immediately. The thief, fearing capture, took the advice and ran.

A fairy who lived in a nearby Bodhi tree saw what had happened and asked the Bodhisatta why he had helped the thief. The Bodhisatta explained that he did not want the tree harmed by the men chasing the thief. Soon after, the king’s men arrived, saw the thief had rested under the neem tree, and planned to return him there for punishment. The fairy from the Bodhi tree admired the Bodhisatta’s foresight, realizing that the Bodhisatta had acted wisely by thinking about the potential consequences of the situation.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In the Buddha’s time, one of his chief disciples, Moggallana, was meditating in a forest when a suspicious-looking man came and lay down near his hut. Moggallana, suspecting the man was a thief, told him to leave. Later, a group of men arrived with torches, searching for the thief, but since he was not at Moggallana’s hut, they continued their search elsewhere.

The next day, Moggallana told the Buddha about the incident. The Buddha then shared this story, revealing that in a past life, he himself had acted similarly by sending away a thief to prevent harm to his tree.

The fairy living in the Bodhi tree in this story was an earlier incarnation of Sariputta, another of the Buddha’s top disciples.

Moral: This story highlights the wisdom of thinking ahead and considering the long-term consequences of actions. The Bodhisatta, by helping the thief, was able to prevent harm to the neem tree and avoid the unnecessary destruction of nature. The tale also shows how the actions of wise individuals, even in small matters, reflect their foresight and compassion, qualities that the Buddha’s disciples strove to embody.