Bodhisatta’s Wisdom: Compassion Overcomes Fear of Doom

In ancient times, the Bodhisatta was born as an ascetic who lived high in the Himalayas. One day, he traveled to a nearby city to collect salt and vinegar, and he decided to spend the night in the royal park. At midnight, the king of the city was awakened by the eerie sound of eight different cries coming from the night. These sounds seemed foreboding: the moan of a crane, the caw of a crow, the whine of a weevil, the song of a cuckoo, the call of a deer, the screech of a monkey, the wail of a gnome, and the cry of a “private Buddha,” those who achieve enlightenment on their own but do not teach others the path. Terrified by these ominous noises, the king believed them to be a sign of impending doom and consulted his brahmins for advice.

The brahmins, fearing the worst, advised the king that a large animal sacrifice was necessary to ward off the danger. They told the king that only a great sacrifice would stop the disaster that was surely coming. The king, trusting the brahmins’ wisdom, ordered the preparations for the sacrifice to begin. However, one wise young student of the eldest brahmin questioned this plan, arguing that such a cruel act would only lead to rebirth in hell. But the brahmin disregarded the student’s objections, more interested in the rich rewards that the sacrifice would bring.

The young student, unwilling to accept the injustice, sought out an ascetic who might be able to change the king’s mind. He eventually met the Bodhisatta in the royal park and explained the situation. The Bodhisatta calmly assured the student that he knew the meanings of the eight sounds, but he could not speak to the king unless the king came to him. The student returned to the palace and informed the king of the ascetic, who could explain the strange noises. The king, eager for answers, rushed to meet the Bodhisatta in the park.

When the king arrived, he respectfully greeted the Bodhisatta, who began to explain the sounds:

1. The Crane’s Cry: The crane had moaned because the pond where it lived had dried up, and it was suffering from hunger. But the crane was reluctant to leave its ancestral home. The Bodhisatta suggested that the king instruct an advisor to fill the pond with water, which would resolve the crane’s distress.
2. The Crow’s Caw: The crow had made its nest above the doorway of the elephant stable, but a one-eyed mahout would destroy the nest each time he rode his elephant through the door. The crow, in frustration, vowed to peck out the mahout’s other eye. The Bodhisatta advised the king to replace the cruel mahout.
3. The Weevil’s Lament: The weevil was trapped at the peak of the palace roof, where it had consumed all the fig wood but could not eat the harder woods. The Bodhisatta suggested that the king send a servant to release the weevil.
4. The Cuckoo’s Song: The cuckoo, a pet in the palace, yearned to escape its cage and return to the freedom of the forest. The Bodhisatta recommended that the king set the cuckoo free.
5. The Deer’s Cry: The deer, also kept as a pet in the palace, missed its mate and longed to return to its herd. The Bodhisatta advised the king to release the deer.
6. The Monkey’s Wail: The monkey, another palace pet, was driven by a desire to enjoy the company of females again. The Bodhisatta suggested that the king set the monkey free.
7. The Gnome’s Sorrow: The gnome, a spirit living in the palace, missed his wife, a fairy, and was filled with longing. The Bodhisatta encouraged the king to set the gnome free so he could be reunited with his beloved.
8. The Private Buddha’s Passing: The final sound was from a private Buddha, a being who had attained enlightenment but did not teach others. This Buddha had chosen to die in the king’s park, so his relics could be honored in a sacred festival. The Bodhisatta explained that this Buddha’s death was a sign of peace, not danger.

Upon hearing the Bodhisatta’s wise explanation, the king was relieved. He ordered that all the animals and beings involved in the sacrifice be set free, and he held a seven-day sacred festival to honor the private Buddha’s relics. The king also built a stupa at the crossroads where the four high roads met, in honor of the Buddha’s passing.

The Bodhisatta then preached to the king about the importance of righteousness and compassion. With the crisis averted and his heart at peace, the king thanked the Bodhisatta, who returned to his Himalayan retreat.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In the time of the Buddha, a similar situation unfolded. King Pasenadi, a righteous ruler, heard the ominous cries of four beings from hell—sounds representing the suffering of those condemned to eternal torment for their sinful lives. His brahmins, just as in the past, advised him to perform a great sacrifice to avoid the impending disaster. The king ordered the preparations for the sacrifice, but his wise chief queen, Mallika, suggested that the king consult the Buddha.

The king followed his queen’s advice and went to the Buddha, who explained that the cries from hell were not a warning of doom but a message from men suffering in torment, who had risen from the cauldrons of hell to warn the living. The Buddha revealed that the men had committed adultery in their past lives, and the cries were their attempt to send a message of repentance. The king, reassured by the Buddha’s wisdom, called off the sacrifice and set the victims free.

The king and the student of the eldest brahmin in this story were reborn as Ananda and Sariputta, two of the Buddha’s most trusted disciples, who continued to spread wisdom and compassion throughout the world.

Moral of the Story:

Wisdom, compassion, and understanding can dispel fear and prevent harm. The truth, when revealed by a wise and compassionate heart, brings peace and righteousness, even in the face of seemingly ominous signs.