Indra’s Test: The Wolf and His Broken Vow

In a time long ago, the Bodhisatta was born as Indra, king of the gods, and from his celestial throne, he watched the world unfold below. One day, his attention turned to a wolf who lived on a solitary rock along the Ganges River. The river, often peaceful, was prone to violent floods, and one such flood arose, turning the wolf’s rock into an isolated island. Stranded and hungry, the wolf realized that he could not hunt, and soon grew weak.

As the holy day approached—a time when many creatures refrained from killing and followed sacred vows—the wolf made a decision. He would fast and observe the precepts of the day. Yet, knowing the wolf’s weakness of will, the Bodhisatta, curious to see if he could test the wolf’s resolve, decided to intervene.

Taking the form of a goat, the Bodhisatta appeared on the wolf’s rock, just within his sight. The wolf, weakened by hunger, looked at the goat and was immediately tempted. “Today is a holy day,” he thought, “but surely one goat won’t hurt. I will wait until tomorrow to observe the precepts.”

He stood up, his hunger clouding his judgment, and began to chase after the Bodhisatta in the form of the goat. The Bodhisatta skillfully evaded all of the wolf’s attacks, jumping and darting around, making it impossible for the wolf to catch him.

After a time, the wolf grew exhausted and stopped chasing. Panting, he lay down on the rock, satisfied with his efforts, convinced that he had not broken any vows. He convinced himself that, after all, he had only tried to catch the goat; he had not actually eaten it, so surely he hadn’t broken the precepts.

At that moment, the Bodhisatta revealed his true form as Indra, king of the gods, and rebuked the wolf. “Foolish creature,” he said. “Your vow was not merely to avoid killing; it was to overcome temptation and desire. You allowed your hunger to lead you into sin, and by failing to control your mind, you have broken your sacred vow.”

The wolf, ashamed, had no response, and the Bodhisatta left him there, still weak from his failure to observe the precepts truly.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

In the time of the Buddha, there was a disciple named Upasena, known for his rigorous ascetic practices. He wore robes made from discarded cloth and ate only one meal a day, following austerities that went beyond what was required. These additional practices were not commanded by the Buddha but were seen as a sign of dedication, and those who followed them were granted the special privilege of visiting the Buddha at any time.

Some of the younger disciples, however, took advantage of this privilege in a way that the Buddha found troubling. When they wanted to speak with the Buddha, they would put on ragged robes, pretending to follow strict ascetic practices. But in truth, their austerities were only superficial—they wore the rags not out of true renunciation, but to gain access to the Buddha’s presence.

One day, the Buddha noticed piles of discarded cloth in the disciples’ quarters and understood what they were doing. He was not pleased, and so he gathered his disciples and said, “These practices are like the vow of the wolf in the story I am about to tell you. Just as the wolf, in his weakness, observed the holy day only for a short time before breaking his vow, so too are these disciples following a practice that is hollow and without true resolve. They are merely wearing the robes, but their hearts are not in it.”

The Buddha then told them the story of the wolf and the Bodhisatta, and how the wolf’s vow had been broken by his unchecked desires. “True asceticism,” the Buddha said, “is not about outward appearances or temporary sacrifices, but about mastering the mind and controlling one’s desires in all circumstances.”

Moral: True spiritual practice is not about external displays of piety or following rules just to gain favor. It requires inner discipline, sincerity, and the ability to control one’s desires, even when temptation is strong. The superficial practices of the wolf and the disciples only lead to failure; only by cultivating genuine virtue can one fulfill the true meaning of the vows we take.