Bodhisatta’s Wisdom: The False Ascetic’s Deception

In a peaceful forest, nestled away from the bustling villages, there lived an ascetic known for his wisdom. He had chosen the life of seclusion and simplicity, meditating in his humble hut amidst the trees. He had been living there for fifty years, and during that time, he had earned the respect of the local villagers, who often came to hear his teachings. But there was one thing they did not know about him—the ascetic’s wisdom was often clouded by his desires, especially when it came to food.

For many years, the Bodhisatta, in the form of a pigeon, led a flock that regularly flew around the ascetic’s forest hut. Every now and then, the pigeons would visit him, listening to his wise words, unaware of the darker side of his character. The ascetic enjoyed their visits, and the sight of the pigeons, in all their beauty, filled him with peace.

However, the harmony between the ascetic and the pigeons was about to be shattered. One day, the villagers decided to serve the ascetic a special meal—pigeon. The ascetic, having lived so long on fruits, grains, and water, had not tasted meat in years. When he ate the pigeon, he found it to be extraordinarily delicious. This experience sparked a wicked thought in his mind: if pigeons tasted so good, he should catch and kill some for himself.

The Ascetic’s Plot

The ascetic, in his cunning, began preparing for the capture of the pigeons. He gathered the ingredients for a savory meal—rice, ghee, milk, cumin, and pepper—and sat at the entrance of his hut with a staff hidden under his robe, ready to strike when the pigeons returned.

But the Bodhisatta, ever watchful, soon noticed something was amiss. As he flew over the forest and approached the hut, he sensed a strange energy about the ascetic. A pungent aroma reached his beak—the unmistakable smell of freshly cooked pigeon meat. The Bodhisatta’s keen senses told him that the ascetic had betrayed them, and he immediately understood the danger.

With quick thinking, the Bodhisatta commanded his flock to scatter and fly away, knowing they were no longer safe in the presence of this deceitful ascetic.

Confronting the False Ascetic

The ascetic, realizing that his plan had been foiled, called out to the Bodhisatta, asking why he was acting so strangely after so many years of peaceful interaction. He tried to sweet-talk the pigeon, asking, “Why do you now treat me so coldly after I have shown you nothing but respect all these years?”

The Bodhisatta, with calm dignity, replied, “I have only just learned the truth of your character. You are a false ascetic, pretending to be virtuous while secretly harboring wicked desires.” The truth of his words hung in the air like a heavy cloud, and the Bodhisatta could see the anger rising in the ascetic’s eyes.

Angered by the Bodhisatta’s words, the false ascetic grabbed his staff and hurled it at the pigeon, but his aim was poor. The staff flew harmlessly past the Bodhisatta, who looked at him with solemn eyes.

“You may have missed me with your staff,” the Bodhisatta said, “but you will not miss the torments of hell that await you for your evil deeds.”

The Bodhisatta threatened to expose the ascetic’s true nature to the villagers, telling him, “If you stay here, I will reveal the truth of your actions, and they will no longer hold you in reverence.”

Fearful of being exposed, the false ascetic, unable to silence the truth, fled from the forest, leaving his hut behind and the pigeons to live in peace once more.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

Many years later, when the Buddha’s disciples were discussing the evil deeds of Devadatta, the Buddha shared this story with them. Devadatta, once a beloved disciple of the Buddha, had turned against him and tried to kill him on several occasions. Through this tale, the Buddha showed that Devadatta’s malevolent intentions were not new. Even in previous lives, Devadatta had been someone who sought to harm the righteous, and his wicked nature had revealed itself in many forms.

The false ascetic in this story, who had plotted to kill the pigeons, was revealed to be an earlier incarnation of Devadatta, the Buddha’s infamous adversary. And the wise ascetic who had once lived in peace with the pigeons, guiding them with his wisdom, was an earlier birth of Sariputta, one of the Buddha’s most trusted disciples.

The Lesson

The Romaka Jataka is a story of deception, wisdom, and the consequences of falsehood. The Bodhisatta, through his awareness and virtuous nature, saw through the ascetic’s false appearance and prevented harm to his flock. It teaches the importance of discernment and the dangers of being deceived by appearances. The story also serves as a reminder that actions, especially those driven by greed or ill intentions, have lasting consequences.

Through the Buddha’s recounting of this tale, his disciples understood that evil, in whatever form it may take, is a persistent force that must be confronted and overcome. But even more, it serves to remind us that the truth always has a way of revealing itself, and falsehoods, no matter how cleverly concealed, will eventually be exposed.