The Darimukha Jataka: Renunciation and the Path to Enlightenment

In the Darimukha Jataka, the Bodhisatta is once again portrayed in a royal setting, this time as a king. He is born as a prince to the chief queen, while his close companion, the son of the royal chaplain, is born on the same day. The two boys grow up together in the palace, sharing a deep friendship. As they mature, they are sent to Taxila for their education, and upon completing their studies, they travel the land seeking new experiences.

During their travels, they arrive in a city where the king has recently passed away without an heir. They take refuge in a temple and, the following morning, go out to seek alms in the streets. At one house, the Bodhisatta is given a seat covered with a white cloth, while his friend receives a seat with a red rug. The friend recognizes this as a divine omen that the Bodhisatta is destined to become the king of the city, while he himself will be appointed as the commander-in-chief.

As fate unfolds, the two friends are later relaxing in the royal park. While the Bodhisatta naps, the royal chariot is sent out without a driver—an ancient method for finding someone worthy to be king. The friend, however, has a change of heart. Reflecting on the impermanence of life, he decides that he no longer wishes to rule as a layman and opts to become an ascetic instead. He hides out of sight.

The royal chaplain, upon seeing the auspicious marks on the Bodhisatta’s feet, wakes him by playing loud music. He then kneels before the Bodhisatta, proclaiming, “Lord, the kingdom falls to you.” The Bodhisatta accepts the throne, and the coronation takes place right there in the park. Afterward, the Bodhisatta forgets about his friend entirely, absorbed in his new royal responsibilities.

The Friend’s Transformation

While the Bodhisatta becomes the king, his friend remains behind in the park. As he watches a leaf fall from a tree, the friend has an epiphany: his body will eventually decay, just like the leaf. This realization opens his insight into the impermanence of all things. He comes to understand that all things are subject to decay and death, which leads him to achieve a form of enlightenment. He becomes a private Buddha, one who attains enlightenment on their own but does not teach the path to others.

Soon after, a robe and a bowl fall from the sky onto the friend’s body, marking a significant spiritual event. He then flies to the Himalayas, where he lives in solitude as an ascetic.

The Bodhisatta’s Awakening

Forty years later, the Bodhisatta, now a king, recalls his old friend and wonders what has happened to him. He announces that anyone who can find his friend will be greatly honored, although the Bodhisatta does not actively seek him out. After another decade, the friend, through his spiritual insight, learns that the Bodhisatta has been thinking about him. He flies back to the city and goes to meet the king.

The Bodhisatta welcomes his old friend warmly and listens as the friend speaks about the nature of attachment and suffering. The friend urges the Bodhisatta, now an aging king, to renounce his worldly pleasures and comforts. He explains that the true path to peace and happiness lies in a holy life of detachment and spiritual discipline. However, the Bodhisatta, though touched by his friend’s words, replies that although he rules justly and practices generosity, he is still too attached to pleasures to renounce them completely.

The friend speaks once more of the misery caused by desires and the blessings of a life devoted to the holy path. After this, the friend flies back to his mountain retreat.

The Bodhisatta’s Renunciation

The Bodhisatta, deeply moved by his friend’s words, reflects on the impermanence of life and the futility of worldly attachments. He decides to follow his friend’s advice. Soon after, he abdicates the throne and hands it over to his son. The Bodhisatta then sets off for the Himalayas, where he lives the rest of his life as an ascetic in a humble leaf hut, embracing the path of renunciation and solitude.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In the Buddha’s time, the Darimukha Jataka is told to the Buddha’s disciples as an example of a similar renunciation in his past life. The Buddha compares his own great renunciation, when he left the palace to seek enlightenment, to the story of the Bodhisatta’s decision to give up his kingdom for a life of asceticism and spiritual seeking. This story serves to highlight the importance of detachment, impermanence, and the renunciation of worldly desires on the path to enlightenment.

The Buddha does not identify any other previous births beyond his own in this particular tale.

Moral of the Story

The Darimukha Jataka contains profound lessons about attachment, impermanence, and the path to enlightenment:

1. The Impermanence of Life: The falling leaf symbolizes the impermanence of all things, reminding us that everything in the material world is subject to decay and change. This realization is what leads to the friend’s awakening and spiritual transformation.
2. Renunciation of Worldly Attachments: The Bodhisatta’s friend urges him to renounce the pleasures and attachments of royal life, reminding us that true happiness and inner peace come not from worldly power and possessions but from spiritual growth and detachment.
3. The Role of True Friendship: The story also shows the power of a true friend in guiding one toward wisdom. Despite his worldly success, the Bodhisatta is able to find clarity and a deeper understanding of life’s impermanence through the advice of his friend, who serves as a wise guide, just as the Buddha’s disciples serve as guides on the path to enlightenment.
4. The Path to Enlightenment: Just as the Bodhisatta ultimately chooses the path of renunciation and asceticism, the story encourages us to reflect on our own lives and attachments. It is a reminder that in order to achieve spiritual freedom, one must be willing to let go of worldly desires and embrace a life of simplicity, meditation, and self-discipline.

Lessons for Buddhist Practice

• Reflecting on Impermanence: The story teaches the importance of contemplating the impermanence of all things. The falling leaf symbolizes the inevitability of change, urging practitioners to detach from temporary, material pursuits.
• Renunciation and Detachment: The Bodhisatta’s decision to renounce the throne in favor of a humble life as an ascetic serves as an inspiration to those seeking spiritual growth. It encourages us to let go of worldly attachments, knowing that true peace comes from inner transformation, not external success.
• Friendship and Wisdom: The story highlights how true friends, especially those who are spiritually wise, can offer valuable guidance and help us gain a deeper understanding of the nature of suffering and the importance of renunciation.