The Crocodile and the Wise King: A Lesson in Greed
In a previous life, the Bodhisatta was a wise king who enjoyed relaxing by a serene lake. During one such leisure time, the fish and turtles gathered around to watch the performances of dancers and singers. The king’s advisors, seeing this unusual sight, informed the king that the animals were there to offer their assistance, should it be needed. The Bodhisatta, pleased by this, ordered that the fish and turtles be regularly fed rice, with the understanding that the animals’ appearance at feeding time would signify their desire for the food.
To ensure that the rice wasn’t wasted, the Bodhisatta instructed the feeder to bang a drum before tossing the rice into the water. This simple sound signaled the start of feeding time. Soon, the animals began to gather regularly at the sound of the drum, and the feeding ritual became a routine part of the kingdom’s life.
However, a crocodile living in the lake soon realized that the drumbeat heralded an easy meal, and it began to come regularly to snatch up some of the rice meant for the fish. The Bodhisatta, noticing this greedy behavior, ordered the crocodile to be captured. When the crocodile returned to the feeding area, the fish feeder struck it with a harpoon. Although wounded, the crocodile managed to swim away. In a final attempt to escape, the crocodile heard the feeder shouting that no matter where it went, it could not evade its punishment for greed. Soon after, the crocodile succumbed to its injuries and died.
In the Lifetime of the Buddha:
In the time of the Buddha, one of his disciples became distracted by worldly desires, which made it impossible for him to concentrate on his studies or meditation. The Buddha saw this and explained to his disciples that desire is like a barbed arrow. Once it pierces the heart, it is very difficult to remove, and it can cause immense suffering and even death if not dealt with. To illustrate this point, the Buddha shared the story of the crocodile, showing that greed, like the crocodile’s insatiable hunger, leads to destruction.
Moral:
- Greed Leads to Destruction: The crocodile, driven by greed, could not resist the temptation of an easy meal, even though it led to its eventual demise. Similarly, unchecked desires in our lives can lead us down destructive paths.
- The Dangers of Giving in to Temptation: The crocodile’s behavior symbolizes how yielding to temptation, especially when it’s easy or offers immediate satisfaction, can lead to consequences that are difficult to escape from.
- The Power of Desire: The story emphasizes how powerful desires can be, likening them to a barbed arrow that sticks in the heart. Once desires take hold of us, they are not easily removed, and they can prevent us from reaching our true potential or peace.
- Wisdom in Resisting Temptation: The Bodhisatta’s wise leadership and his refusal to allow the crocodile to continue its greedy behavior reflect the importance of making wise decisions and resisting temptation, no matter how alluring it may seem in the moment.
- Reflection on Self-Control: Just as the crocodile’s greed led to its downfall, so too can human desires and lack of self-control cause suffering. The story invites us to reflect on our own desires and urges us to exercise restraint and mindfulness.
Lesson: This tale teaches that greed and unchecked desires lead to negative outcomes, often beyond our control. Just as the crocodile’s obsession with an easy meal led to its end, so too can indulgence in material or fleeting pleasures result in harm to ourselves and others. It highlights the importance of self-control and the wisdom of resisting temptation.