The Wisdom of Letting Go: The Story of Dasannaka Jataka

The Dasannaka Jataka tells the story of a wise advisor to a king, whose wisdom ultimately helps the king heal from his heartbreak and regain peace. In this tale, the Bodhisatta, in his past life, served as the king’s trusted counselor. One day, the king’s chaplain’s son became infatuated with the queen at first sight. Consumed by his feelings, he refused to eat or leave his home for days, until the king learned of his obsession and decided to grant him a week with the queen.

During this time, the chaplain’s son and the queen fell in love. At the end of the week, they fled the kingdom, disappearing without a trace. The king, devastated and heartbroken, fell gravely ill, but no physician could cure him. Recognizing the king’s emotional pain, the Bodhisatta deduced that the king’s condition was not physical but mental.

To help the king, the Bodhisatta arranged for a performance in the palace yard, including a sword-swallower. When the king witnessed this impressive feat, he asked one of his advisors, “Is there anything more difficult than this?” As planned, the advisor responded that it is much harder for a person to give something away willingly. The king, remembering that he had given his queen to the chaplain’s son, felt a sense of lightness, and his sorrow eased slightly.

The king then asked another advisor if there was anything harder than giving something away. The advisor replied that not only giving something away, but actually following through with the decision, is harder still. The king reflected on his own actions and realized the strength in his decision, which further lifted his sorrow.

Finally, the king turned to the Bodhisatta and asked what was more difficult than giving up something and following through with it. The Bodhisatta’s answer was profound: “Not regretting what you’ve given up is the hardest of all.” The king then understood the nature of his loss and realized that if his queen truly loved him, she would not have fled. He recognized that his sorrow had been rooted in a lack of self-control and that the true path to healing was acceptance. As the king’s heart lightened, his recovery was complete, and he rewarded the Bodhisatta with wealth and praise for his wisdom.

In a later lifetime, the king and queen were revealed to be a former disciple of the Buddha and his wife. The disciple, struggling with attachment to his former life, was contemplating leaving the Sangha. The Buddha shared the story of the king and his queen, showing the disciple how his attachment had caused him suffering in past lives. Upon hearing this, the disciple gained clarity and chose to stay on the path of enlightenment, free from the pain of attachment.

The two other advisors were revealed to be the great disciples Sariputta and Moggallana, embodying wisdom and strength in their previous lives as well.

Moral of the Story:
The Dasannaka Jataka teaches us that true peace comes from letting go of attachment, embracing self-control, and not regretting the choices we make. It highlights that emotional suffering often stems from the inability to accept change, and true wisdom lies in our capacity to let go gracefully.