Bodhisatta’s Wisdom: Patience in Justice and Leadership

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was a righteous king. During his reign, a private Buddha—an enlightened being who achieved nirvana independently, without teaching others—came to stay in the royal park. The Bodhisatta, ever righteous and kind, ensured that the private Buddha had everything he needed.

One day, the private Buddha traveled to a nearby village and instructed the park-keeper to look after the park in his absence. After a few days, the Buddha returned after dark, unaware that the park-keeper had invited guests to visit that evening. The park-keeper, intending to provide meat for his guests, went into the park to hunt a deer. However, in the dim light, he accidentally shot the private Buddha with an arrow, mistaking him for the deer.

Realizing his terrible mistake, the park-keeper rushed to apologize and attempted to save the Buddha by removing the arrow, but it was too late. The private Buddha died in great pain. The park-keeper, overwhelmed with remorse and fearing the king’s wrath, fled the city with his family to escape punishment.

A year passed before the park-keeper returned to the city and sought out one of the Bodhisatta’s trusted advisors to inquire about the king’s opinion of him. The advisor praised the park-keeper when he next spoke with the king, but the Bodhisatta remained silent and offered no reply. The park-keeper tried again the following year, but again the king did not respond.

It was not until the third year, when the advisor informed the king that the park-keeper had returned, that the Bodhisatta finally summoned the man to his presence. The king listened to the park-keeper’s story and, after considering the situation carefully, concluded that the killing had been an unfortunate accident. The Bodhisatta, in his wisdom, decided to give the park-keeper his job back, reinstating him as the park-keeper.

When the advisor asked the king why he had not spoken earlier, the Bodhisatta replied, “I did not want to act hastily out of anger. I wished to give time for reflection and to avoid making a decision in the heat of the moment.” The park-keeper, moved by the king’s magnanimity, and the entire court, praised the Bodhisatta for his patience and just handling of the situation.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In a later life, the Buddha recounted this story while rebuking a king, teaching him how a wise and just ruler should act. The king, as a ruler, should exercise patience and avoid rushing to judgment, particularly in matters of justice. The park-keeper, who had mistakenly killed the private Buddha, was reborn as Ananda, one of the Buddha’s most trusted and devoted disciples. Ananda’s devotion to the Buddha and his wisdom were said to reflect the patience and careful thought that the Bodhisatta exhibited as a king in this past life.

Moral of the Story:

Hasty actions driven by anger or fear often lead to unjust outcomes. Patience, careful thought, and a willingness to wait for the right moment to act are the marks of a wise leader. In matters of justice, a ruler must give time for reflection and not act rashly. This story serves as a timeless reminder that wise decisions are made through understanding, patience, and contemplation.