The King and the False Teachings: A Tale of Equanimity

Once upon a time, in a realm beyond our world, there was a god who had long perfected his heart and mind, a being of supreme equanimity. In his next rebirth, he would take on the form of a wise teacher, embodying the qualities of compassion and wisdom.

In this life, he was born as a mighty king, whose rule was just and righteous. One day, seeking entertainment and diversion from the responsibilities of his throne, the king called upon his three advisors. Each had a suggestion for how to spend the day—one suggested military conquest, another proposed music and revelry, and the third, a pious man, suggested they visit a holy ascetic.

The king chose the third option, and they traveled in the royal chariot—a magnificent ivory and silver carriage drawn by white horses—to meet a renowned naked ascetic who had taken residence in the royal park. The ascetic, a man with little wisdom but great pride in his austerities, greeted the king and his entourage warmly.

When the king inquired about how to attain heaven, the ascetic spoke of a bizarre doctrine. He claimed that there was no heaven or hell, no sin, and no karmic consequences for actions. According to him, everything was predestined, and actions, whether virtuous or vile, had no lasting effects. He went so far as to say that even taking a life held no karmic weight, and that helping others was a foolish endeavor.

One of the king’s advisors, a man who had been a hunter in a past life, agreed with the ascetic’s teachings. He boasted of his current wealth and high position, despite his past sins. A poor slave, who had been listening nearby, broke down in tears, expressing how unjust life seemed to her. Despite her righteousness in the present life, she had been born to a prostitute and lived in misery, while others seemed to thrive, regardless of their past actions.

The king, deeply moved by the words of both the advisor and the slave, became convinced that there was no afterlife, no merit to be earned, and that his virtuous rule had been in vain. He decided to abandon his duties and indulge in the pleasures of life, abandoning his devotion to religious observance and justice.

On the next holy day, his daughter, a princess of great virtue, came to ask for her usual offering to the poor. She was loved dearly by the king, who had always given her generous support for her charitable deeds. But this time, the king refused, telling her that there was no need for almsgiving or any other virtuous act, for the world had no true moral structure. Everything was predestined, and there was no reward or punishment for one’s actions.

The princess, wise and compassionate, was horrified by her father’s words. She rebuked him, pointing out the absurdity of his new beliefs. She explained the truth of karma—the law of cause and effect—and how one’s actions in past lives influenced the present. She shared her own tale, recounting the cycle of births and deaths she had endured, illustrating how her past misdeeds had led to suffering in future lives, even though she had lived righteously in the present.

Despite her wisdom, the king remained unmoved. In desperation, the princess prayed to the heavens for guidance. Her prayer was heard by the Bodhisatta, the god who had perfected equanimity in past lives, who now took the form of an ascetic and descended to the palace.

The king mocked the Bodhisatta, asking if he believed in karma and the afterlife, and the Bodhisatta responded with a clear and powerful explanation of the consequences of sinful actions. He spoke vividly of the torments awaiting those who refused to follow the path of virtue—ravens tearing at the body, dogs with iron teeth gnawing at the flesh, and endless suffering in hell.

Frightened by these visions of hell, the king finally began to listen. The Bodhisatta taught him about the importance of virtue, generosity, and self-control. He compared the body to a chariot, with the mind as the charioteer, and urged the king to drive the chariot of his life with wisdom, keeping it free from the dust of desire and greed. He advised the king to cultivate good friends, avoid bad influences, and live in harmony with the law of karma.

The king, now humbled, promised to live a life of virtue, and he returned to the path of righteousness. He praised his daughter for her wisdom and courage and encouraged his court to follow her example.

As the Bodhisatta returned to his celestial realm, he reflected on the power of equanimity—the calm, undisturbed nature of one who understands the true nature of reality. The king, in his earlier birth as a wise ascetic, would later find enlightenment through the teachings of the Buddha. The princess, the slave, the advisors, and even the ascetic would all be reborn in future lives, each of them carrying the seeds of wisdom and virtue they had cultivated in this life.

In time, the king’s story would be retold by the Buddha himself, showing how the Bodhisatta’s wisdom and compassion had saved a king from the false teachings that led him astray. It was a story of the eternal power of equanimity, and the unshakable truth of karma and moral action.

Moral: The story reminds us that no matter the teachings of those around us, true wisdom comes from understanding the interconnectedness of our actions, the consequences they carry, and the path to spiritual growth. Pleasure and indulgence may offer temporary relief, but only through virtue and understanding the law of karma can we find lasting peace and happiness.